Hampi : The First Sight, Still rolling In Mind

Our first day in Hampi started with the ever so fixed breakfast when one is in South India - coffee and dosa. That was the fuel to keep us running atleast for half the day.
A bus ride till a street with narrow roads, lined shops, paddy fields and greater numbers of non-Indians reminded me of the charm of old Goa. Walking further, this notion was changed by the static view of the temple tops,stepped slopes, morning chants, coconut trees, wild sugarcane grass dancing with the wind and the ever flowing waters of Tungabhadra running by. None could stop capturing the view as we waited for a boat to ferry us across to the next land, which was Hampi.
Reaching Virupaksha temple, I couldn't stop gazing at the monumentous structure that lay in front. This piece was a carnival of carvings. Mesmerized by its beauty, I didn't gauge how much of a walk I had in store today. Getting a glimpse of the temple inside out, we headed to Matanga hill and the Hemakunta groups of temples. A hill so steep, looking back wasn't an option.
This half day walk amounted to a day's walking without food, so for re-fueling ourselves we went to Mango Tree restaurant. This place gave vibes of a very relaxed mind and body because of its nomadic ambiance and seating. The humble lunch was followed by cycle ride to the monolithic Bull temple - a magnanimous carving out of a single rock. As exciting as the cycle ride was, ''carrying'' the cycle all the way up on a steep slope was equally horrifying. A series of smaller temples, the Narasimha statue trailed along.
A ride back to the resort on autos that could seat eight people at a time in a flip-back fashion was exciting when everyone rushed to get a seat at the back. Horrible lime sodas,forever pursuing guides, adventure amounting to two days of exercise and watching the uncontrolled, uninhibited joy of riding a cycle on a slope without a break was all that the first day had to give!