India

Yesterday we arrived in Varanasi..a journey from Chennai to Bangalore and on to Delhi ....Delhi has been in thick fog for 2 weeks and the airport has been struggling to get flights in and out.

We knew about it ..but still there where we circling above Delhi for the fog to lift, round and round it shoed on the screen,I imagine with many other planes in the smae predicament, hoping I thought before we run out of fuel.

At last there we go down the wheels came out, and land ..now the pilot informs us as no-one was able to yet depart that day there is no place for us yet.to embark ...ha ha ha

An hour later movement we are so mighty pleased to get our bums of the seats when an employee hurdles us on to a bus to catch the flight to Varanasi, back on our bums, but mercifully there are toilets on board...
These passengers had been waiting for us and a cheer went up when we arrived...as Sonja and I had ideas on a cappucino, that had to wait.

Varanasi's arrival lounge was a bee-hive of faces pressed against the windows I suppose for fresh tourists, our taxi driver proudly held up a sign with our names and off we went, needless to say we where stuffed kind off.

This morning after breakfest at the top floor of our guesthouse that is overlooking the Ganges and see the sun come up from our balcony, we had a great encounter with a riksha driver straight away. He became our guido in his riksha and showed us some temples in the old city, a labirinth of enormous proportions unimaginable.

No traffic is possible there but foot work, with lots of people, cows, goats, darting the cow poop is part of the game, he told us great sdtories, of history, customs, and symbolism of this city. We went to the burial ground and witnessed the bodies arriving under chanting prayers and how this ritual is so important to them to free the soul from the body.

Each cast has their own spaces to be burned amazing stories in this dream. Our guide we appreciated greatly with his fine manners and very spritual ideas that for me where mind blowing.

Without him we would not have been able to wander in that old part of the city as there is no way one can know how to get out.

A visit to a coffee shop, yes Cappucino's and Latte's where on, and on to a aroma theraphy shop to be told some wonderful ideas about many different oils, Rose, Sandalwood, Rosemary, many more, each one he placed as a tip on our arms untill we smelled just divine and naturally buying some.

Lunch at the cafe believe it or not called the Vaticaan and delicious pizza's ..

To see people bath in the Ganges is an amazing sight, I like to look but not to join ...