Blogs from Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

'If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear'.* Is this something Buddha might have said? I think so - but probably not in those words.† Take a look at an actual quote in the picture alongside! It's a definite fact, however, that Buddha's story was one of riches to rags - but it's not one that many people know about, so be prepared for a bit of history: Born in 563 BCE as Siddhartha Gautama, he was the son of a wealthy chief from a small kingdom in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal. He was brought up in relative luxury but, when he ventured beyond his spoiled existence, he was shocked to discover poverty and suffering in the world outside. A ... read more

When is couchsurfing not really couchsurfing? When it is three days with Biren Thapar in Lucknow. At first I felt a little like I was in the belly of the beast. Biren Thapar comes from an upper middle class Indian background, full of "old money" and servants inside a grand mansion. These are the people I set myself against in the UK, whether talking about politics or out sabbing in the Waveney Valley. Yet there he was, opening up his home and his resources to travellers at little more than a couple of days notice, lavishing us with food as soon as we arrived and not asking for a penny. We had our own private en suite bedroom that, coming after a dingy night at the Diamond Hotel and a rough few nights in Jhansi and ... read more

Herasimme jo neljan jalkeen. Puoli kuudelta lahdettiin ulos ja otettiin tunnin veneajelu. Aurinko nousi sen aikana. Virta olikin aika voimakas. Nahtiin yksi polttohautauskin. Kokko oli juuri sytytetty ja jalat nakyivat. Veneajelun jalkeen kavin yksin tutkimassa lahikortteleita. Aamupalalle menimme puoli kahdeksan maissa ja puoli kymmenelta lahdettiin jo paivakaynnille Saranathiin. Sinne mentiin riksalla, joka oli tilattu hotellista. Temppelissa seuraamme lyottaityi mies, jonka palkkasin edullisesti oppaaksi. Poikkesimme viela museossa. Paluumatkalla kuski vei meidat muslimikortteliin. Ostin sielta huiveja ja tilasin Olgalle ylioppilasmekon. Katsottiin kangas ja otettiin mitat raatalia varten. Ostoskeskuksessa (Mall) kavimme elokuvissa. Talla kertaa vuorossa oli toimintaleffa. Polkupyorariksalla tulimme hotellin lahelle ja kavimme ravintolassa, jonka edellisillan opas oli meille... read more

Saranath is the city that the Buddha gave his first lecture after receiving enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya. We traveled there with Anil youngest daughter who traveled by train from Delhi to be our guide. She is 26 yrs old and is an accountant in Delhi. We hired an all day Taxi to drive the 12 k from Varanassi. 900 rupees all day. We visited the Museum and walked the grounds of the old ruins of the temple that used to be there. At the ruins we had a little run in with local guides who were giving are friend a hard time. Telling her that she was not a registered guide and could not act like on. I told her she was our guide and friend and to leave us alone. They did ... read more

I forgot to update everyone regarding my expenditures. In August I spent 11,587.5 rupees. More than July, cheifly due to travel expenses and the purchase of some shoes. Still, not too terrible (I expect this month, with lots of travel, to be a bit worse). Today I visisted Sarnath, the place where the Buddha first taught his message to mankind. While relaxing under the shade of a particularly grand and elderly tree, two teenage boys sat by me and started a conversation. They were bored, and one of them drew my picture (no sales pitch involved). I wrote my name under the drawing, and the younger (17) kid said "that's my name!" Here it is pronounced more like "Brindin". I am very pleased. Maybe I am destined to spend many years in this country.... read more