Ferrari Magic India Tour

Prancing in the Land of the Tiger

The day in Hampi was a brilliant one. It was at an easy pace and in every direction one could only see happy smiling faces. Rahat and I spent the first half of the day separate from the rest of the group. Our first aim was to head straight for a glass of the most amazing fresh fruit juice in the world. We ended up as usual drinking two huge glasses each, until the tummies begged for mercy. If you're heading to Hampi, please do not make the mistake of coming back without having tried the juice in Hampi Bazaar. The wonderful colours of the people and the market kept the cameras clicking away throughout. We just wandered lazily from one end to the other, a perfect way to explore a place such as this. It was nice to see that some places don't change too much in a month's time. Everything looked exactly as we'd left it a month ago. The little shops on carts seemed to have been rooted to the same spot despite their wheels. Some of the tourist even looked familiar! Having spent the 1st half exploring the streets, we headed to the "Mango Tree" restaurant for lunch. I have rarely had a meal at a more delightful place!

The Scaglietti amongst the Hampi ruins during Sunset, epitomes of the past and present

The best fries I've ever tasted - at the Mango Tree restaurant in Hampi

The mango Tree is like an amphitheatre built into a hillside with the riverbed and fields as your stage! The tree, obviously of mango, provides shade to the entire sitting area. Seating is on floor mats and the steps provide a perfect backrest. The breeze coming up from the river is amazingly refreshing. However, the best thing about the restaurant is their French fries! Or I should call them Indian Fries due to the delicious masala and spices added to them. I could go on a trip back to Hampi just to eat another plate (and a glass of juice at the bazaar)! It was almost difficult to get oneself to leave but I almost felt guilty holding onto the spot as quite a few people were waiting to be seated. Its a popular place and an early arrival is advisable to ensure immediate seating during meal times. On the way out of there we watched some young boys enjoying themselves in the river, swimming, diving, splashing and generally doing what young boys always do. All in front of a rock on which was painted, "Swimming in river dangerous". After enjoying watching the fun, the rest decided to head back to the hotel a while. I decided to sit under a huge tree and do nothing at all. It was a perfect afternoon spent in the company of birds, squirrels, chameleons and all the other beautiful people!

I knew they were taking the Ferraris out for a shoot amongst the ruins and was just thinking I wish I had gone along to make the day perfect, when during a walk to the other side of the river to see some temple ruins I'd missed last time, we heard the beautiful sound of the cars on the move. We had landed up slap-bang in the middle of the shoot, all by chance. I couldn't have asked for more! The sight of the Ferraris, a symbol of the modern world, with the backdrop of buildings that so beautifully showed us the wonders of the past, was a truly awe-inspiring scene that will remain etched in my memory forever. After the shoot, deciding to walk back instead of taking a lift, we witnessed a sunset that seemed quite frozen in time. A time of many centuries past, invoking a sensation I'd never experienced before. The ruins silhouetted against the reddening sky, the silence broken only by the paddling sound of the last boat man making his way across in his floating basket. It was another world we stepped into for those few wonderful moments. A world I wish we could all experience atleast once in our lives filled with heavy schedules and chaotic routines.

I wish we could learn the art of cooperation from these children

Boatride in a basket at Hampi

Chameleon with an attitude!

Squirrel Chameleon pals at Hampi