Having been lulled asleep by the croaking of frogs in the rice paddy accross from our digs last night, it was the sound of chanting from the main temple, coming floating across the river that was the wake-up call in Hampi this morning.
Unable to sleep anymore, I went to on an early-morning investigation to find the source of the mantras, only to discover that it was only a “cassette” playing – according to a local shop keeper in any case. The sound was reminiscent of the Islamic call to prayer, but less insistent and somehow comforting; the start of each line in the mantra beginning with a long “Aaaauuuumm”.
Several just-arrived-off-the-bus, bleary-eyed travellers with their backpacks sat by the riverside. They were taking in the dawn breaking over the boulders, while waiting for the proprietors of the guesthouses to wake up.
At 8am, Natalia and I headed to a local hatha yoga class with a teacher called Chidanand. It was fun to be led through a sequence of postures, some of which were oldies-but-goodies, others which were new. I especially liked Chidanand’s warm-up sequence. I might just take inspiration from him when preparing my next Hatha class! “Yoga for every one” is the slogan Chidanand uses on his advertising – exactly the same slogan as we use at the Yoga school in Mandrem. Funny that 
That’s a beautiful picture you paint. Are you travelling through India?
Hi there. Thanks for reading! I’ve been based in Goa for the last five months or so, where I’ve been teaching yoga, and enjoying some short jaunts to other places nearby, like this trip to Hampi. Next stop is down to Kerala and onwards to Nepal..
That sounds wonderful, I look forward to reading your next posts!