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Published: June 17th 2009
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We arrived in Varanasi after the longest train journey in the world (42hrs)! The Lonely Planet book warned that as soon as you arrive, you'll be pounced on! This was definitely the case, with rick-shaws and tuk-tuk's fighting to take us to our hotel. They were bidding for our business, and we took the lowest bid. We agreed a price and got into the tuk-tuk. After 10 metres, the driver turned around and said that he wanted us to pay triple the agreed amount, otherwise he wouldn't take us!! We got into an argument and got out of his tuk-tuk - "Welcome to Varanasi"!!!
We soon found a trustworthy Nepalese guy (Baboo), who took us to our hotel. Corinne wasn't feeling well as she had a really high fever and kidney infection. After searching for an hour, I managed to find a goodish hospital. We arrived there, and heard a huge scream as a lady had just been told she'd lost a loved one. Very upsetting. We asked to speak to an English speaking GP, and were ushered through to the 'Resuscitation Room'. There were 2 beds in there with patients, both on their last legs. A Consultant GP was
sat behind a big desk, and asked Corinne to explain her symptons. She gestured to the patients on their death beds, and suggested they needed help far more! 1 hour, and 4 Doctors later we left with some antibiotics. We will never complain about the NHS again...!! :-)
After our hospital experience, we went out with Baboo to visit 2 different temples - the 'red temple' and the 'monkey temple'. Both were fascinating - Indian's really "live" their religion, and it's lovely to experience it.
After the temples, we went to the Ganges River (known as Mother Gange) - the holiest river in India. Thousands of pilgims wash themselves in the river everyday - both to wash away their sins, and to bring them good luck. The town of Varanasi was hectic and dirty, with lots of slums - so we didn't hold out much hope for the Ganges. We were wrong! We arrived, and it was one of the most peaceful places we've visited in India - absolutely lovely! The Ganges is really wide, with sand flood planes on one side, and the Ghats (steps) on the other side - with temples / religious ceremony stands /
hotels - all leading down to the river. There is a Ghat / step for each state of India, leading into the river with an aging Maharaja palace at the top of each ghat.
We hired a boat and oarsman, and went out onto the river at sunset, which was beautiful and tranquil. Our first stop was a burning Ghat - where bodies are cremated in the open fires along the steps leading into the river. The bodies are covered in gold cloth, and are individually burnt on fires - which takes 2-3 hours. The fires are big, and the bodies are covered with logs, so it's not too disturbing to see. In fact, it was surprisingly ok. Burning bodies on the ghats is for the 'rich' as it costs 2,000 rupees (30 GBP). The 'poor' use electric crematoriums, which cost 500 rupees (8 GBP). For religious purposes, bodies are bought from all over India to burn on the ghats of the river. Our guide explained that anyone can be cremated in this way, except for; babies, pregnant women, Sadhu's (very religious), Lepers and victims of King Cobra bites.
We spent 2 hours on the Ganges river -
seeing all sorts of weird and wonderful things. The river is incredibly dirty, with 30 open sewers leading into it...!! Yet children swim in it, people wash their clothes in it, buffaloes bathe, and men fish in it! There's even a Ganges dolphin....!! It's a fascinating place.
Also the McDonalds was pure A/C heaven!
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Vince
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nice
Have you ever been to Southall?! x