Hamppiiiiiiiii

Writing this at 11:26, and I’m thinking about my Hampi experience.

I went solo on a bike, about 300 km from my place. I was a bit skeptical before going because I had heard the weather there is extremely hot.

But it turned out to be fine.

On the first day, I explored Hampi with some hostel friends. It was okay, nothing great, nothing bad.

The next day was different.

I woke up late, slightly hungover, and everyone had already finished breakfast. So I went out alone, riding around, asking a random guy on the road for a breakfast spot.

He said, “Go to Mykonos.”

I said, “Okay, let’s try it.”

That decision changed everything.

I walked into a place where a group of people were dancing like nothing else mattered. It was 1 in the afternoon.

I joined them.

That is where I met Ivry, who has been living in Hampi since 2011.

We started talking, and he casually invited me to his place that evening. He said he was cooking shakshuka and enchiladas and mentioned a psytrance party happening later that night.

And I just showed up.

The evening turned into one of those experiences you cannot plan. Good food, great conversations, and then the party.

I was probably the only Indian there, dancing till 6 in the morning.

Somewhere around 3 or 4, I met Niran.

She asked me, “What’s the craziest experience you’ve had so far?”

I said, “This one.”

She smiled and said, “No. The one you’ll have tomorrow.”

The next day, there was another gathering at their place.

I will keep it simple and just say it was an open party.

But what I experienced there… I had seen things before, but nothing like this.

It was completely unexpected.

And I have never felt that free in my life, and this story seems like a dream or something

Glad that i said yes to a stranger and yes to many more things that landed me here

And that is why Hampi has a special place in my heart.

To Hampi.

And to the culture that makes moments like this possible