Varanasi

The most holy city yo Hindus is in the center of the country. Old people who feel that their about to die take on their last travel and get to Varanasi to die. They stop eating once their and hope to be burned next to the "holy mother" aka Ganges. The city it self is a average big Indian mess with narrow alleys along the Ganges. Because the height of the water changes very significantly according to the Monsoon there are very wide stairways along the whole river. People bath every morning in the "holy Mother" even though industrial waste is evident. The exotic thing about Varanasi is the fact that people get burned next to the river, the ashes are then put into the river. Dead babies, pregnant women, and other exceptions do not deserve to get burned and are thrown into the Ganges as they were. Dead cows also find there way into the holy river. We saw a dead cow actually swimming next to a dead baby. This unique culture is so used to this fact that they have no problem swimming close by.

Along the river are two burning sights. Daily about 250 bodies are getting burned. The rich people can afford a nice spot while others just burn their relative between the stones.

A group of priests daily perform in the evening at the ghat "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganga, Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe.

Juan and me had a nice time in the hostel which had a bit of the character of a backpacker place. Juan then went north to Kathmandu in a two day trip and I went to Calcutta. The train was 6 hours late and the journey took 18 hours instead of the promised 12.