We left Mysore via car three days ago. Traveling the roads of India makes a trip to even the Cirque via car seem vanilla. Countless times it seemed we'd be a fly on the windshield of so many busses. But our driver, James, has his driving chops down.




It's like just about everyone has Krishna sitting on their shoulder as they navigate the roads. "Just don't hit anything" is the road mantra. 250 km one day, 300 the next, followed by a 400 km pedal to the metal let's-just-get-there push.

Be sure to share the road!


I've learned a number of things on this journey. One is that apparently we're not the only "monkeys" that like beer. More on that later.


Along the way I was kissed by an elephant. The cheap hussie wanted two rupees for one smack on the forehead. And she slobbers.


The horns of India eventually become background music. It takes little time before you don't really notice them. That is until they stop.

We arrived late into Hampi, caught a decent nights sleep and crossed the river in the morning. Then the quiet began. The energy dropped nine notches.


I recall in Jamaica my divemaster pointing out that they have two speeds - slow, and stop. India also has two speeds - fast and faster! Hampi is different. Rice paddies and westerners dot this landscape.

We settled into our huts, I caught a nap, and then I could take it no longer. It was time to pull out the brand new pair of TC's and go find the boulders. I fell in love with these shoes the moment the touched rock. Finally a climbing shoe that fits!

We've made a new friend here in India, a very good friend. His name is Sudhamaraj - Sudhama. He's a deeply spiritual man. He walked the streets and hills of India for three years as a Sadhu. He was a Baba initiated in Varanasi. Now he is a householder. When his children leave the house he'll return to his life as a renunciate.

He redifines the word "hard core" Be bares the marks of his devotion - 18 scars received in 10 minutes with "no medicine". A 30 rupee tuk tuk ride turned into a lifetime friendship. If any of y'all ever ever ever Travel to Mysore this is the man you want to have show you around. His honesty knows no bounds. He's knowledge of India, spiritual practice is comparable.


The boulders here are endless. Sharma came here a few years back with a posse, produced a film, and called it Pilgrimage. Sundhara and I had our A game on so we're working in Pilgrimage part two. We figured warm up on some V5's and then work our way to flashing a few of Sharma's routes and then after we flail miserably downgrade them two grades (I've learned a ton from Russ Walling). Mission complete - sorta. There were only two problems with this plan, 1) Sundhara has never climbed before and, 2) I've not climbed in 8 months. But why over look the little details in the interest of a good story? We sent a couple V2s, smoked a few beedies and called it a day.









For 50 rupees you can rent a bouldering pad, for 50 more some shoes. The pads are trashed but they have a very impressive selection of shoes (not kidding). There's also a decent guidebook you can buy online for $3. It's worth the rupees.

Skip the egg boulders if you come here as they are surrounded by sh#t. The "Middle" Plateau boulders are pretty good. The rock quality is excellent.


We're off to the Hanuman Temple for today. His birthplace. I think I'll stay here an extra week just for the boulders.