Day 166 - Bully Monkeys

Nandi means bull. In theory Nandi Hill is supposed to look like Shiva's bull. I don't see it, but it still makes for a nice day trip from Bangalore. The walk up from the bus stop led through the old hill station where the stepped cistern was still populated by large carp. We climbed down and fed the fish crackers until a lady in a sari yelled something incomprehensible. Seeing as she didn't stop yelling until we left, we think the gist of it was "NO FEEDING RITZ TO THE HOLY FISH!"

Undaunted we continued up the hill. Where we were attacked by monkeys. M had assured me that Nandi Hill monkeys were NICE monkeys. They were not. Now I admit to an anti-monkey bias, but these monkeys did nothing to dispel my prejudice. They GROWLED at us. One even jumped on M's arm and had to be physically flung off. Lucky for him, we weren't at Tippu's drop, where an emperor used to dispose of his enemies. That monkey might have been in for a short ride with an abrupt end.

At the top of the hill lies a ruined temple guarded by a mercenary priest. To him, foreigners are great, big bags of money just waiting to be plundered. Unfortunately for him, we are broke backpackers, and only donated at slightly higher than the Indian rate. He grumbled but let us in anyway. The ruins were lovely and old as ruins are want to be, and we enjoyed meandering through the stone passageways until we emerged on the other side.

Where we were accosted by more monkeys. I threw an old banana at them to appease them, and we scooted into the hilltop restaurant. Lunch was good, but the best part were the views over the surrounding hills, plains and lakes.

After lunch, we moseyed our way back down to the bus park. Our bus was supposed to leave at 2:00. 2:30, and another bus came and went. Some monkeys came over to wait with us. 3:00 - still no bus. I bought a cucumber from a street vendor. I ate some. I gave some to M and Cz. I shared some with the Monkeys. These were much nicer monkeys than the ones on the hill.

3:45 the bus finally showed up. Not only was it the same bus we rode in on, but we wound up in the same seats!

We slept much of the way back to Bangalore.

V met us when we arrived at his house, and we went out for dinner and kulfi (the local ice cream). Which was lovely. All the weight I lost trekking is coming back with a vengeance.

Despite the nice monkeys at the bus stand, I still think they are evil, sharp-fanged little beasties. One exception does not make the rule.