Varanasi

Yesterday we were up at 4am for a train trip up to Varanasi. Just to be in the Delhi train station at that time of the day is an experience in itself with the floors just completely filled with sleeping people. The heat was immense but at least protection from the rain.
The train trip up to Varanasi was the perfect thing to be doing after the long haul of flying and just getting to India. Big comfy seats and big windows to look out of , never mind the food that just kept on coming! It must say something about a country's cuisine if even the railway food is super tasty ( bar the cornflakes in hot milk) The views mainly consisted of endless rice fields and small towns with maybe not their best real estate showing at the rail station. But as always lots of activity and the rice fields are being harvested.
We arrived in Varanasi in the afternoon and getting out of the rail station was another "experience" and we were again so thankful to the guides who got us into the not so air conditioned vans but then onto the cool of the Raddison Hotel.
The temp was 36 plus . After a bit of a rest off we set to the banks of the Ganges and to see the goings on down there. We were not sure what to expect but as of most experiences in India you just absorb everything going on around you as it's just so colourful and vibrant and busy!! We had a great guide here who lives in a house with 22 others and 5 generations and loves it.
We got down to the banks of the Ganges and it is quite an emotional experience to witness all that is going on down there with hundreds of people on the banks immersing themselves in the holy water where Pilgrims come across the world to to worship it. It is suppose to expiate your sins and cure all ills! Looking at the state of the water I would think it may give you some ills. Onto a small boat we went and puttered down the Ganges ...for the faint hearted maybe don't read the next sentence. Along we came to the pyres where the cremation of bodies goes on 24/7 and it's all happening as we boat pass. Only men of the family can be there and the body at least is covered in a cloth but.. it was all very sombre but also very grounding . Apparently once the body is burning they have to crack the skull open so God can get out!
Then after that rather different experience we got off the boat to go to watch a Hindu service on the banks. I managed to bathe my feet in the Ganges so let's see what comes of that. The service was run by Brahman monks in their orange robes as the sun set. Another colourful somewhat long service and meanwhile some of us got blessed by a Brahman monk and hands hennaed by a beautiful young girl who had never been to school,
So full of all things spiritual and Indian we headed home with our first experience of a TukTuk ride on this trip. As scary as usual but we got home safely so worn out .
This is being written in a hurry as we are off soon for a day in Varanasi . What will we experience today. It is again hot and incredible thunder this morning.
Haven't seen any Olympics yet but hope to at some stage.
Am sorry this has been slow to be posted but have been hit with the dreaded Delhi Belly.
Photos to comeRead more