Varanasi to Kolkata

Now I am out of sync as we have been in Kolkata for 2 nights and staying in the most beautiful hotel that it seems a different world to what we saw today.
Our last day in Varanasi before we left was visiting the Hindu temples in the University area and what is amazing about the temples is that they are very plain but full of flowers and people! If we were worried about crowded places at the airport this was another level. They have deities for everything you could wish for and believe in being nice to every living thing as you could be that ant next!
It was great to see such alive places of worship without all the trappings.
There were the beggars outside which is always sad especially the little children with their beautiful dirty faces. They say the social system in India is much improved but poverty surrounds you wherever you go.
One of the highlights.of the day was going to a silk factory where these quite elderly gentleman were weaving silk in the most beautiful design only known to them and it takes months to weave a single item. Then of course came the Masala tea and the sit down and who wants to buy! Naylors got tempted into a beautiful runner..Brian couldn't resist but most bought something knowing the value of their work. Plus they sit on hard wooden stools and no air con. Truly inspirational.
Tomorrow I will describe impressions of Kolkata as an amazing full on place.
After a long day am lying on my bed watching Olympic table tennis and as you can imagine no coverage of NZ athletes so have to rely on good old RNZ
Am still not 100 so hopefully tomorrow will be a new day!Read more