We arrive in Varanasi around 10:00 a.m. We transfer to our hotel by tuc tuc and the traffic is bad. We are on the 3rd floor and there aren't any elevators. Thank heaven for porters helping with the luggage. I'm done with lugging my suitcase up and down stairs. For 100 rupees ($2) they look after it. So worth it.
We have lunch at the hotel and a little down time then a walk at 4 p.m. ending with a river cruise and dinner. We walk along the Ganges which is close to our hotel.
The river cruise took us down the Ganges to where they are cremating someone. They do this 365 days a year. It becomes the norm to see wrapped bodies waiting to be cremated.
We witness people praying, bathing and preparing the funeral pyre. There is also an electric crematorium.
We return and go for dinner at a pizza place which is on the bank of the river. They specialize in apple pie and ice cream! How weird is that but it's delicious! We return to the hotel and actually have a sleep in the next day. Much needed. We find a restaurant close by called The Back Door which is absolutely fantastic for breakfast. Great coffee!
After breakfast Pauline and I set out to find an ATM that's working. A rickshaw driver offers to take us for 60 rupees. He's great. So friendly. We try 5 or 6 machines before we get money. He then takes us to a friend's small store to get change and I find a perfect red tunic and another pair of pants! Later that day we walk the Ganges banks again but it's so hot!
We then go to a silk shop but nothing stands out and it's quite expensive. No purchases.
That evening we go for dinner at a hotel across town. Over 30 minutes by tuc tuc but the food is good. It's Nikki's birthday and we've had a bit of a celebration.
Back to the hotel as we have to be up early tomorrow. At 5:40 a.m. we leave for our sunrise cruise down the Ganges to witness morning prayer and bathing.
It's a true experience watching the sun rise on the Ganges. After we go for coffee at the Back Door but the power goes out and we have a bit of a wait but it's worth it. We do get our coffee!
We have to pack up and vacate our rooms but we keep two rooms to put the luggage in until we leave at 5:30 p.m. for the train station. We kill time by going to Sarnath which is an ancient ruin where there is a large Buddha statue. It's hot and it's not well layed out. It's a disappointment and I think we're done. Hot and dusty.
We have lunch at the hotel and a little down time then a walk at 4 p.m. ending with a river cruise and dinner. We walk along the Ganges which is close to our hotel.
The application of colours is already happening for the Holy Festival...Vaughan is the first to succumb...what a good sport!
The river cruise took us down the Ganges to where they are cremating someone. They do this 365 days a year. It becomes the norm to see wrapped bodies waiting to be cremated.
We witness people praying, bathing and preparing the funeral pyre. There is also an electric crematorium.
Serving Masala Chai to everyone...this fellow is so agile...hopping from boat to boat!
We return and go for dinner at a pizza place which is on the bank of the river. They specialize in apple pie and ice cream! How weird is that but it's delicious! We return to the hotel and actually have a sleep in the next day. Much needed. We find a restaurant close by called The Back Door which is absolutely fantastic for breakfast. Great coffee!
After breakfast Pauline and I set out to find an ATM that's working. A rickshaw driver offers to take us for 60 rupees. He's great. So friendly. We try 5 or 6 machines before we get money. He then takes us to a friend's small store to get change and I find a perfect red tunic and another pair of pants! Later that day we walk the Ganges banks again but it's so hot!
Barbers working their magic in the streets!
We finally reach the sinking temple and turn off in to a maze of small streets.
Sinking temple
Such a crowd...you could get lost so easily here.
We go for lassi but my chocolate and coconut is too rich and I can't finish it.
We then go to a silk shop but nothing stands out and it's quite expensive. No purchases.
That evening we go for dinner at a hotel across town. Over 30 minutes by tuc tuc but the food is good. It's Nikki's birthday and we've had a bit of a celebration.
Back to the hotel as we have to be up early tomorrow. At 5:40 a.m. we leave for our sunrise cruise down the Ganges to witness morning prayer and bathing.
It's a true experience watching the sun rise on the Ganges. After we go for coffee at the Back Door but the power goes out and we have a bit of a wait but it's worth it. We do get our coffee!
We have to pack up and vacate our rooms but we keep two rooms to put the luggage in until we leave at 5:30 p.m. for the train station. We kill time by going to Sarnath which is an ancient ruin where there is a large Buddha statue. It's hot and it's not well layed out. It's a disappointment and I think we're done. Hot and dusty.
When we get back to the hotel we have a rushed dinner and then it's off to the train station by tuc tuc. We're heading back to Delhi. The Holy festival starts tomorrow and already you can see the congestion.
I'm so ready to come home.
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