As with Littlewing, I also tend to skip blogs about India... as I had a traumatic experience there when I was eight...seeing vultures pick a body apart on Malabar Hill in Bombay. Anyway, I wanted to read your take on Varanasi, and it is consistent with those of other visitors...although by staying in a nicer hotel you seem to have missed getting gastrointestinal bug that most seem to get. Good luck with a job either in Byron Bay or Cairns.
Not a swimmer? Another fascinating blog Niki. Enlightening and absorbing. On a lighter note I note you're not a swimmer! Maybe in Byron Bay you can remedy that. If in Sydney give me a bell.
Cheers mate a small edit to the main burning ghat story. very funny account of swimming in the river that i realised i had forgotton. here it is Once The Body has been fully cremated any remains are then wrapped in cloth and cast into the river. The real sad thing is some families cannot afford the wood for the cremation so instead of Burning the body, the body is weighted down and sunk to the bed of the river. Frighteningly funny, a taxi driver, that I asked if he swims in the river, explained that four years prior to the now he used to swim but he had a very unfortunate incident. In an Indian accent the whole story was shocking but hilarious. As he did every day he would go down to the river for his bathing ceremony. Dip dip dip, glug glug spit, then he would add a running dive and swim for his daily exercise. You have all seen signs at swimming spots for submerged rocks hahaha… the poor bastard dived in and got caught by a dead body and on realising what it was he flew from the water in shock and ended up in hospital for four days. When he came out of his trance he vowed never to swim in the river again.
Craziest Place Ever! When people ask us what the most incredible place we have ever been to, the answer is always Varanasi. The colors, smells, tastes, noise and heat are unforgettable. Walking through the crowds towards the Ganges to take an evening boat ride on the river was best described as a hallucinogenic experience without taking any drugs. Watching the Aarti festival while sending small candlelit offerings on the river while having your feet massaged with oil is the most bizarre thing that ever was in my life. Our guide pointing out the "Debt Buddies" on the river amongst the people brushing their teeth was odd enough. When I figured out he was saying "dead bodies" it became surreal. Nothing like Varanasi anywhere on Earth. Great blog and great adventure. You will probably never top this one. Good travels!
Happy 33rd! What a great, exotic place to spend your birthday! So trippy that the city allows all that untreated sewage to pour into the river, knowing people bathe in it--maybe they think Shiva magically cleans it out?! It's been fun tripping around India with you--good luck finding a fun job!
small edit Once The Body has been fully cremated any remains are then wrapped in cloth and cast into the river. The real sad thing is some families cannot afford the wood for the cremation so instead of Burning the body, the body is weighted down and sunk to the bed of the river. Frighteningly funny, a taxi driver, that I asked if he swims in the river, explained that four years prior to the now he used to swim but he had a very unfortunate incident. In an Indian accent the whole story was shocking but hilarious. As he did every day he would go down to the river for his bathing ceremony. Dip dip dip, glug glug spit, then he would add a running dive and swim for his daily exercise. You have all seen signs at swimming spots for submerged rocks hahaha… the poor bastard dived in and got caught by a dead body and on realising what it was he flew from the water in shock and ended up in hospital for four days. When he came out of his trance he vowed never to swim in the river again.
Great blog and good luck in Byron I have to admit to normally skipping over India blogs but your title caught my eye - great read thanks a lot. Best of luck in Byron Bay - big bubbles!
Top 10 Travel Destinations in India India is lodged with different aspect of places like historical and royal. In this section, we aim to provide you top 10 travel destinations in India.
toptenstuff.in/top-10-travel-destinations-in-india/
Photo "Conquered" Wonderful Mr. Maguire - I enjoyed your photo "Conquered." The sky evokes not complete resolution after a climb, but a churning which foreshadows more heights yet to climb. Good Job!
Amazing You are one tough dude Niki. Eating whatever food vendors have available...toilet break then more street food...another toilet break. Did you perchance drink tap water as well?
Happy Birthday! How fabulous that you found such sweet, gorgeous, quiet spots among the craziness of the poo streets! You really have me wanting to go to India with your great tips--Little Taj and Akbar's tomb. The Dehli belly seems pretty formidable though as a street food aficionado, my tummy is stronger than most. Loved both the video on Laxman Rao and your pilgrimage to meet him--these off-beat meet-ups give such meaning to travel. And good to hear there's affordable AC, but horrendous hearing of the trains. I hate booking anything ahead, but it seems my spontaneous ways may not be so safe or comfy--yikes!
Escapes by camel Ah the allure of deserts...even better when on nature's caravan the camel. I've scored deserts on camels in Oz, Dubai & Mali. Great tips & tricks for doing so in India Niki...followed by a cheeky shower...now your talkin'.
A Wild Papaya! Good to see you're on to the cons of the India Man, and also that there are great guys like The Real Desert Man. Udaipur sounded great and this staying in a fort and riding camels in the desert were pretty wonderful. How amazing to be able to get out in nature, away from the big throngs of people in India. Quite a contrast to Delhi, I imagine. Good luck there!
oh the belly Cheers Dave for reading. seems im getting a few hits since you following. cheers for that. i worry that eventually the travelling will stop and i will have to work again. all fun times ahead for now. cheers again
Your blogs are AMAZING!!!! Hi Nikki and Case, Looks like you are having an amazing journey, love reading your blogs, so much fun and so informative. Keep safe. Kris. xx
In September of 2005 i was asked to go on a trip to Thailand that to be honest i thought was a place id never see. Making this trip with the person i did made my life what it is today!! im on the road and am loving every minute of it! Im having the time of my life and i want no body to worry about me any more!! I love you all tonnes....... Now more about me!!!
im a half english half irish brummy and my name is Niki Maguire....... on the 26th of october 2006 i left the miserable United Kingdom in search of something better to do! the plans dragged me through China where i met so many great... full info
Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
As with Littlewing, I also tend to skip blogs about India...
as I had a traumatic experience there when I was eight...seeing vultures pick a body apart on Malabar Hill in Bombay. Anyway, I wanted to read your take on Varanasi, and it is consistent with those of other visitors...although by staying in a nicer hotel you seem to have missed getting gastrointestinal bug that most seem to get. Good luck with a job either in Byron Bay or Cairns.