Khajuraho

It's been nearly a week, since I had written my last entry. In the mean time, I just wanted to be less active. Less shooting, less visiting, just talk with people, have a lemon ginger honey tea and ease my mind...Khajuraho helped me in doing these.

DAY 12
I arrived in this small town on Saturday afternoon by bus from Jhansi. The bus was full of tourists: Spanish, English, Japan?, Serbian and finally a Turk. I was siting at the back of her seat (Her name is Ezgi), chatting with one of the Spanish guys and when her Serbian friend heard that I'm from Turkey, she warned Ezgi. It was a little bit weird and difficult to speak and understand her at first, since it had been nearly 2 weeks without hearing my native language. Bus travel was not so comfortable since the seat were just designed for Indian sizes.

After getting off the bus, I started to look for a hotel with the Spanish guys. Yogi Lodge was the one we found. We agreed on 50 Rp. per night with the guy who offered me 60 at the moment I got out of the bus, while other customers were staying for min. 100 Rp... I couldn't figure out the exact system, but I think they just look at you and make a guess in order to get you. Rooms were clean, food was ok and cheap... Although I was in a touristic spot, up to that time I had gotten the best room with the best price.

After putting my things in the hotel room, I met with Ezgi and her friend and had a dinner with them. She had been in India for more than a month, working in Jaipur for a social organization. They had been traveling for the weekend.

DAY 13
My initial plan was to visit the western temples; but I was feeling too tired and also getting a little bit bored of visiting temples and palaces, etc. permanently.
I must say I almost did nothing except having beers with my Spanish friends. We met with also other Spanish people, lots of actually. The town nearly turned into a little Spania.

DAY 14 - SPANISH VUELTA
Spanish guys had been leaving at the afternoon. We rented bicycles at the morning and directed ourselves into the rural areas. It was really nice to meet with the village people, who were very poor but at the same time so generous. I visited a primary school; lots of kids were sitting on the floor and trying to follow what the teacher was writing on the black board. Had a picture of them and took the adress of the teacher in order to send them after.



Having sent them, I was thinking what to do in the coming days. I was planning to be on the way to Varanasi on Tuesday afternoon; but still I couldn't had found the desire and the energy to visit the temples. And more importantly, one Indian military helicopter pilot, Goa, and his Swiss girlfriend, Corinna, and Austrian Viktor had the plans to visit the Panna National Park on Wednesday. It was the time to see some tigers, crocodiles.


DAY 15
At last I visited the western and eastern temples, as if it was my duty as a travel guide.

KHAJURAHO TEMPLES
During 10th and 14th 85 temples, on which you might see Kamasutra sculptures, were built in the area. The area has never been an important place, before and after the temples. Now 24 temples are standing.

Not a certain figure, but it's been said that around 84 figures of different Kamasutra positions are hidden on the walls of the temples (mostly western temples).
You may see the ones I found in my pictures, for over 18 age:).

DAY 16
Early in the morning we started our short-time travel to the park. We had to be there around 06:00 am in order to see the tigers since they were leaving the park roads after sunrise and going up to the hills to chill. I was excited; this was my first little safari tour.

Well, total failure:) No tigers, no crocodiles... Just some elephants, and deers, and bucks... Anyway it was enjoyable to stand on the jeep and look for the wild animals. I hope next time!



After our little safari had finished, Goa, Corinna and I kept on our way to Panna (on the way to Varanasi) to stay in a hotel, which was for military and governmental officals. Corinna and I acted as paragliding instructors, looking for a convenient place around the area for Navy, in order to pay less for the rooms.

Panna is a middle-size town, set around a lake. Not-touristic I can easily say; but our facility had a lake-view from the hill, it was set on. Calm and peaceful... Me and my friends had a lot in common; talked for long hours and shared our countries and thoughts. Especially the things about India, I learned from Goa, had given a rise to my doubts related to India; whether she had lost some of its characterictics that make her unique. India have been and is clearly changing as in most part of the world.

DAY 17
Up to 02:00 PM, we had just sat in the garden of the facility and talked. Then moved on our way to Satna, which would be the place for us to separate from each other. They were going to Mumbai and I was to Varanasi.

The good-bye was too sudden and insufficient. They realized the bus stop, they should got off, at the last minute. We were looking at each other, as if we're sorry for not to say good-bye as we wanted.

Once again I was alone on the road. After a 1 hour trip to a town called Rewa from Satna, I finally jumped in my bus carrying to Varanasi.