Already Part of the Family.

In the morning I could barely get out of my cocoon of warmth, the only thing that made me was the prospect of food.  I didn’t bother with a shower because I couldn’t stand to take my clothes off.  I went down for breakfast and sat on the floor again but the kids had already gone off to school so I didn’t get to see them in the morning. 

After breakfast I went back into my room and curled up in a ball on my bed and did nothing.  It wasn’t until Sooja came knocking on my door to hangout; she is graduated now and just helps around the ashram.  I brought my phone and we went into another girl’s room named Kavita who is in her last year but they stay at home and study there instead of at school.  We sprawled out onto the two beds that were pushed together and watched Indy music videos… some of the guys were soo gorgeous and we all sighed when they took their shirt off or something. 

Before the little kids came home I grabbed my laptop and started showing Sooja and Kavita my photos.  When the younger girls came home they all cuddled up next to me and buried their faces into my computer screen.  When I opened up the Photobooth app they all got excited to take photos and even more excited when I started changing the settings to make their faces distorted; they were screaming with laughter. 

Eventually everyone came home and it was study time so I put my toys away and did my best to help the kids with work.  Anchula (don’t know how to spell her name but that’s how they say it) a nine year-old girl needed help with math so I sat down with her and we did all her numbers.  We counted by 2’s, 10’s, 5’s and other things like this until we were all done and it was finally play time!  I had already managed to make a best friend out of 5 year-old Sita who takes me everywhere.  I didn’t play with the kids today but walked up and down the driveway with Kavita and had Sita on my shoulders while we did walked.  Nobody here likes the cold and everyone is bundled up even if it isn’t as cold as they think it is.  The only ones who manage to say warm and the kids cause they are always running around playing.

Blacky the puppy.

The girls and Aadi

Deepak

Sita 

She loves taking photos of me

Kavita is on the left

Signs of spring I think

Story time...

Soon it was time for Arati Prayer and all the girls shuffled onto one side and the boys to the other.  I didn’t go to prayer tonight, instead I went to my room to blog as much as I could, which wasn’t enough because it wasn’t long before the dinner bell rang and I was downstairs for dinner.  Not soon enough though because all the kids that arrived first got the last of the rice.  Everyone made a mess on the floor like usual, it is never a dull time in the kitchen room.  When food was done I got my hot milk and stood outside playing with Blacky and talking to one of the older boys here, he was very interested about Canada and the differences… I couldn’t stop playing with the puppy.  Soon it got late enough that I said goodnight and went to bed.

I could still see my breath and my toes couldn’t heat up… probably didn’t help I wasn’t wearing socks.

My New Home at the Orphanage

I actually managed to wake myself up in the morning at 5:30 to make it to yoga on time… it was a very difficult task though I must say.  I sat in the warmth of the dark meditation hall with everyone else and practiced yoga and breathing.  When all was done I sat there and meditated until I had said my mantra 108 times and then left for the comforts of my room to finish packing and shower.  When all was good and done I went for my last breakfast at the ashram… I am sad to be leaving even though I wasn’t here for that long.

Eventually the time came when BC arrived and we left the ashram and headed to my new home in Haridwar at the orphanage.  Before we got there we stopped in the city so I could see all the different markets and see all the people bathing in the river… I could see my breath and still men were stripping down to underwear and jumping in; some people are very devoted.  I saw so many things at the different stalls and couldn’t wait to come back here with someone… because I have been told I am not allowed to come alone no matter what.  Finally we walked past all the starring strangers, some who even shook my hand, and back to the car to my new home.

When I arrived there a thick fog covered everything making it very cold.  People that worked there and use to be orphans here as well met me.  We waited in the office for I don’t know what and then after tea we got my things and headed to my room.  I said goodbye to BC and unpacked and made myself at home in my new home.  There is no heating in the room but the blankets are nice and warm… shower only has cold water too.  They don’t have toilet paper either and will have to get it in the next few days.  I collapsed to my bed and snuggled in under the blankets and watched Pokémon until 5… then I received a knock on my door.  Outside they were serving potato pancake things with spices and sauces, I couldn’t wait to eat something warm!  This is where I saw lots of the children, Deepak was the first to introduce himself to me; he is thirteen and extremely smart for his age.  He talked about how he wants to travel to Germany to start his own car company or at least work for one.  I have never spoken to a more educated thirteen year old in all my life… I didn’t even have it all planned out when I was his age.  He walked me around the grounds of the orphanage while he told me this and that about everything here.  The orphans here range from 2-25 and they are all brother and sisters, they all look out for each other and are one big family.  When I asked if anyone ever falls in love here he said NEVER, even though none are related they all act like brothers and sisters, they could never fall in love with each other.  The girls and boys aren’t allowed onto each other sides when it comes to prayers, eating time and they have separate buildings for sleeping.  I couldn’t wait to be apart of this big family and know it wont take long… all the kids ask me questions all the time about everything!  Soon Sonja (19) took me to prayer with all the others; there was lots of singing and drum playing.  It was so much fun and a little girl named Sita kept leaning up against me while we sat.  Prayer took and hour or so and then the bell rang for dinner.  I grabbed my plate and sat down on the ground with my tray like everyone else, the chefs came along and put food on our plates.  Everyone eats on the floor (no tables) and they get food everywhere!  When I was done I had to watch where I stepped or it might have been in lentils and rice.  I figured the kids would be more behaved than I would and they are in ways but I forgot that they are kids and kids don’t act mature a lot of the time.  It must be an Indian thing but everyone hits each other over the head, across the face, and on the back; never in a violent way or to make another cry but I have no idea why they do it… everyone here does it.

When dinner was over with I said goodnight and headed to my room where it was freezing.  I managed to have a shower underneath the warm faucet, sitting on the tiles while I did.  It got nice and warm in the bathroom quickly and I was so happy to be clean… I though I was going to go without a shower for the first night.  I got myself all clean and hopped into bed and warmed up as best I could… when I exhale and can see my breath, I could only laugh.  I was happy to have warm sheets that night and hoped for sun in the morning.

Rishikesh!

This morning I attempted to wake up at 5:45 for morning yoga but failed sadly and went back to sleep to finish a dream.  I did get up at 7:30 though to do a meditation and then start my day with breakfast.  At 10:30 BC came to pick me up for a tour of Rishikesh.

We started at the Barrack temple (another temple for Shiva) and then into the mountains to an ashram dedicated to a very holy man.  The thing I was most looking forward to though was the Ganga and the cave that Buddha came to meditate in.  

Looking out over the city.

Monkeys not given a dam....

The prayer hall.

I did my own mediation in the depths of the cave in complete darkness and silence… until I had to go to the bathroom.  I kid you not it was a tiled hole in the ground, there was no toilet paper either so a bucket of water would have to suffice.  When that ordeal was over with we offered flowers to the river and burned incense, I could have sat by the river for ages and it almost seemed like we did.  We stayed there so long in the sun by the sparkling river that I could see the water rising.  It was the most bizarre thing to see the water rise so quickly, it even swept away the incense.  Eventually it came up to my ankles and then we decided to head to a different cave that Jesus came to live in as well, all these caves were right next to each other.  I didn’t want to leave the river, the sun was so warm and it made the minerals on the surface sparkle.  Not to mention the incredible scenery of the mountains, on the slopes were green farms with layered fields like stairs; it seemed like something you only see in a movie or picture.  I did end up saying goodbye and we headed back down to the city, which I liked the moment we entered.  

So perfect....

I could have stayed here forever...

Flowers to mother Ganga

Too perfect of a day

People make camp on the beaches everywhere! 

The people just seemed so much nicer here and they weren’t as pushing compared to the other places I’ve been in.  I had a quick bite to eat at a café that seemed to be full of westerners… not so sure that any were from Canada though.  BC took me to his home where he showed me the incredible view he has from his rooftop and the little shop they own on the ground.  This is where I bought I lovely hand knitted purple wrap to keep me warm while I stay at the orphanage and agriculture university.  We finally crossed over the bridge to the other side of the Ganga and walked to streets that were filled with many tourist stalls and shops, everything looked so amazing.  A very bright purple and blue hoodie caught my special attention and I had to go try it on, it was so incredibly soft and warm I knew this would be a good investment; only $12!  We continued on towards the grounds of the river where they do a ceremony every night.  During the middle of all the chanting, flames and flower throwing I had to go to the bathroom and by the time I made it there I remembered I needed my shoes but BC had the key to get them back.  I tip toed into the public washroom to find more tiled holes in the ground… surrounded by mud and water.  I grabbed a cup full of water and cleaned my stall out till I was satisfied with the cleanliness, then I went to the bathroom and tip toed back out.  At the end of the ceremony everyone passed around a tier of candles and waved them in a circular motion and then passed it on grabbing smoke and flames and brushing it over their heads with their hands.  It was so cool holding it when it was my turn; I loved waving around the flames.

Students wear the orange robes

The sun was magical

Hanuman 

I couldn’t wait to get back home though and after we crossed a different bridge we walked through more markets and then back to the car.  I made it home just in time for dinner and a good thing too because I was starving! 

After dinner I listened to a lesson on Sadhaka, many stories were given as examples and the best I could get from them was that Sadhaka is kind of like a daily routine we have but more spiritual.  I will probably be able to make a Sadhaka routine while I stay at the ashram in Haridwar.  It was getting late when the lesson finished and I managed to do some packing before I went to bed.  I have decided because tomorrow is my last morning that I will wake up and do the morning yoga routine at 5:45… hopefully I will be able to leave my cocoon of warmth.

A Walk on the Wild Side

I got up this morning for meditation at 7:30 and stayed for 45 minutes, my legs were kind of better today but not by much.  When meditation was over I headed for breakfast and discussed walking trials with everyone at the table, it was raining this morning so everyone was hoping the day would get better soon.  There is a trail after the dam you are not allowed to walk because it is in the national park and there are lots of leopards and tigers that roam around. 

After I had my shower I decided I was going to go for a walk… not to the forest part though, only near it.  I spoke to some baby cows at the Ashram and then headed off.  Finding the dam and crossing the Ganga was easy and when a man told me not to walk a path because of tigers and leopards I listened… and followed a different path nearby.  It trailed along side the artificial river that runs off the Ganges and seemed to go forever.  To my right was water and to my left was a steep hill and forest, which I heard lots of rustling in and then noticed it was the monkeys in the trees avoiding me.  Along the walk I noticed some step that went all the way to the top of the hill and into the dense forest… I did go up these steps.  I stopped at the very top where the cement path stopped and turned into forest… I looked to my left and then to my right seeing absolutely nothing and hearing nothing either.  I knew that if there were a tiger around the monkeys would be the first ones to warn me of it.  I took my shoes off and climbed up a steep rocky hill covered with plants.  Looking around me I tried to figure out what I would do if I saw a tiger and thought climbing a tree would be the best thing but must of them were all trunk.  When I reached the top of the hill all I could see was forest from every direction, behind me there was a tree and I decided to climb it so I might get a better view of everything around me.  As I did this I heard the monkeys start to scream at each other but they were some distance away.  I have never struggled so much to get up a tree in my entire life; my arms were shaking from exhaustion and my core was so weak I could barely lift myself up.  At this moment I realized how weak I am if I can’t even climb up a tree and how helpless I was at the moment with my legs dangling below me.  I released my grip on the branches and fell to the ground, arms and legs shaking and a very heavy heart beat.  If I tiger had come at that moment I would have been done, I probably couldn’t have even fended off an attack from my little brother at that time.  Below me I could hear twigs breaking and then I saw goats roaming around, I heard their herder making noises behind them and was so happy not to be alone anymore.  I clamored down and when the lady saw me she looked at me like I was the most bizarre creature she had ever seen.  I would have looked at me like that too; a white girl wearing no shoes coming out of a forest in India… not something you see everyday.  As I tried to avoid the awkward stare and make a graceful decent down I sliced my foot open on a rock, I kept walking though.  Until she was out of site did I look at my foot and notice I chunk of skin hanging off.  I walked down the steps towards the river and when I finally made it down there was a small group of men dispersed along the walkway.  When I emerged from the forest I got the same looks but these ones were more curious looks than stupid ones.  I smiled at them and climbed over the barrier and down to wash my feet in the cold water, my body was so hot I desperately wanted to go swimming as well!  As I rinsed my feet more men seemed to gather from out of the forests and soon there was a big group of them… just looking at me.  It was the strangest thing so when I got out of the water and back onto the sidewalk they all started casually walking towards me and I to them.  I finally said hi to them and smiled and only the brave few said hi back and others smiled… it was the weirdest experience I have yet to have with guys.

Mother cows

Baby cow!!!

The path I walked along

I hurried home not wanting to miss lunch and wanting to have a shower because I smelled… and my white pants were covered in mud; not the smartest idea I’ve had so far.  I turned on the bath faucet and washed my pants till they were new again… I didn’t think it was going to be possible but I managed it.  I cleaned myself and then headed for lunch telling my friends about my adventure, not everything though… they aren’t ready to hear everything. 

I watched Pokémon in my room until 3 and then left for a tour of a temple… unfortunately it was raining and people here don’t do things in the rain.  So back to my room I went to watch more Pokémon and do nothing for a while.  At 5:45 I went for a lovely yoga class (finally) and felt amazing afterwards!  I didn’t go to meditate with the group of people afterwards like last time, instead I grabbed my phone and went back to the mediation hall to play music, practice my cartwheels, and stretch while playing candy crush.  I waited almost the full hour before I decided to go back to my room before heading to dinner.

At dinner we discussed the strangest of things, one topic bounced to the next but all seemed to flow smoothly.  We talked about Swami Rama and all the different levels of eating food (vegetarians, vegans, ect) and I learned that you can get to a point where all you need is air to survive… nothing else.  Somehow we managed to get to the topic of bread and how it has changed so much, strangest topic ever. After all this talk we managed to get ourselves kicked out of the dining hall because it was so late and some how I was late for a movie a didn’t know about.  I rushed to the TV room and sat amongst many women from Thailand.  The entire film the lady with the remote would pause the movie after a minute or less and translate what was just said and explain it.  It was a pretty cool film about Swami Rama but I could have done without all the pausing and talking.

I walked back to my room after the movie was finished and I felt satisfied with my day.  Even with a cut on my foot I had a big smile on my face.  Tomorrow I get to go to a special cave the Buddha and other famous yogis went to to meditate… I am going to meditate there as well!

New Friends

I woke up in the morning at 4:15 to the ringing of the bell, I had many dreams after that about how to get my shower working and what I would do in the daytime.  I finally got up to take a call with my dad about if I wanted to stay here because it is so far away from the city… I have had enough of the city for now.  The city is always bustling with something and here everything is peaceful and going at its own pace.

At breakfast I sat with the same man from last night but this time we talked to each other, it was nice to talk to another person.  After he left four other people from different places around the world joined me but the only ones who would tell me were the girls, they were German and Polish.  Again my age was assumed (21) because “I am so mature looking and the way I speak makes me seem older as well”, if only they could see the silly things I do with my friends.  I was told how to work my shower finally and when I got back to my room that is exactly what I did!  A nice hot shower awaited me and I couldn’t have felt better after that.  I was going to go to a class but was told otherwise and sent to the office to be told what my schedule would look like, not that I would follow it exactly anyways.  After that I was given a lesson on how to breath, when it came to laying on my back and breathing I fell peacefully asleep but still aware of everything.  I felt calm when I woke up and ready for lunch, I couldn’t stop thinking of samosas while I was asleep. 

The houses in which we stay

So many different flowers

The meditation hall is the one with all the orange flowers

So pretty...

I ate lunch outside because today turned out to be absolutely perfect; the sun was so warm against my sides and legs.  When lunch concluded I did I digestive breathing class and a different instructor ended up falling asleep while teaching me, I had to cough loudly to wake him up and then he continued to teach the lesson.  

When the lesson was finished I had time to self reflect for an hour, instead I attempted to recharge the plan on my phone online but with no success… something to do with my cards but I highly doubt it.  I wont get worried about something as silly as my phone because I don’t always need to communicate and I can always get a SIM card for $10.  I sat out in the sun while doing all of this because it was warm outside and inside was cold.  Teatime is at 4 and there is a yoga class at 4:15 but I couldn’t seem to find it so I just went back to my room and figured out how to turn the heat on, I am getting good at making things hot now.  I also got a kettle to add to the list of things to make hot.  At 5:45 I did an hour and 15-minute meditation with Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, at the begging it was quite peaceful… and then my leg started to hurt and my foot got pins and needles and I had to reposition countless times.  I so baldly wanted be peaceful but I could not get comfortable, it was the longest hour ever but I managed to repeat my mantra 216 times and spent the other time doing another mantra.  I was so happy when the dinner bell rang, I could barely walk down the stairs my legs were so sore.  I retreated back to my little house so I might try to mend myself before I headed off to dinner.

I sat with a new friend for dinner who is an instructor here; we had very intelligent conversations.  It wasn’t about yoga if you can imagine, it was about how everyone is programmed to do what everyone else is doing and what they have been told to do for generations; university, well paying job, a family, ect.  He was very passionate as he spoke about all this and when I gave answers to questions he said he has never met any person like me before, he said it is an absolute pleasure to meet me; I guess my answers were right.  After dinner I went to watch a movie about a student of Swami and what he has learned.  I learned that we are all tiny twigs on one giant tree and even when the twig falls off and dies the tree still remains… life still continues even when we are gone.  Knowing this I went to bed fairly happy and tired, I can’t wait for another day here.            

...99, 100 Days away from Home!

In the morning I did another meditation and then started my day with a shower and final packing.  Breakfast was quick and easy and after checkout we headed to the airport.  This was probably one of the only times I have never felt stressed out during every single flight.  Everything went as smoothly as it could and I never got in trouble was cut it close for any flights.  When I got to the Delhi airport I had pizza and a mango lassi and then got on my flight, my bags had been checked through to Dehra Dun so I had no reason to stress out anything.  I landed in Rishikesh and was picked up by someone who of course knows my dad.  For the first time I got to see beautiful forests and a river that flowed below the road the whole drive.  I saw monkeys making their way up the road and was told about the elephants that cross the roads at night.  I was already calm but everything about Rishikesh just calmed me even more. 

When I arrived at the ashram I signed in and was brought to my room, which is inside a red brick one-floor house amongst many others.  The rooms were very cold and for some reason I could not get the hot water tap to work.  Dinnertime was close so I left for the dining hall where you are supposed to eat in complete silence.  I bumped into a lady along the way who spoke nothing at all and just smiled at me.  when I got to the dining hall she showed me where to get my plat and cup and then the food.  I quietly asked I man where to eat and he shook his head at me and left… it was the strangest thing.  I sat down and ate dinner by myself until a man sat with me… we didn’t talk to each other once but I could hear others talking at other tables, which confused me.  Finally when I my plate a man started talking to me and I joked about that I couldn’t believe he was talking.  He explained that silence is good but so is talking and it is not prohibited, he was the first person I spoke to that night and the only.  I headed back to my room to see if I couldn’t figure out my shower one more time but with no prevail, I went to bed without a shower and not smelling in the best of ways.  In the morning there is a 4:15 bell ringing that I will not be attending, nor the 5:15 meditation.  I will sleep until breakfast at 8 and then start my day from there.

Last Day in Varanasi

Today my morning started early with a visit to Mother Ganga and a beautiful boat ride across her.  On the riverbank you could see lots of men having their daily bath in this sacred river and a young baby getting his head shaven for the first time.  Looking out onto the water I felt so calm and at peace and even the river herself was perfectly flat.  This place was so amazing you could just feel the energy that came off the water.  Before Don, Krishna and I climb into our boat that would take us up and down the river the sun started to come up over the hills.  The sun was big and bright orange and it wasn’t covered in a haze, Krishna said they haven’t seen a sun like this in over a month.  I took it as a sign that today was the day to go swimming in the holy river.  When I climb into the boat and looked down the riverbank and into the water I had an overpowering feeling to start crying because everything was so beautiful.  I couldn’t decide if it was because I missed my parents so much and felt like they should have been there with me or it was because I was in such a holy place in India and I couldn’t believe it; might be both.  As I tried to find my inner calm so I didn’t start sobbing into the river the boat paddled of upstream.  Krishna told us that the water levels get so high they flood all the way up to the top steps, which is a good 40 feet or so.  We drifted past a dead calf in the water and Krishna asked if I still wanted to go in, I laughed and said of course.  All the signs for me to go in the water were here today; tons of black birds, two kingfishers (represent Shiva with their blue), jumping fish and a beautifully warm and clear day unlike any other.  We passed many bathers and finally crossed over to the sand bank where I slipped into the water (which was freezing cold) and swam to shore.  Before I got there completely I lit my candle and let it sail off into the water surrounded by flowers, I felt so peaceful.  I changed on the side of the bank in a tiny cloth square and stepped back into the boat feeling fresh and just perfect.  

Here we go!

Shaving ceremony.

Mother Ganga

Good morning sun!

So red!

All the swimmers

Across we go.

Don and I

In I go.

It was so cold as you can clearly see by my expression.

Sun salutations... nice bum

Time to change

Offering to Ganges

Complete.

Feeding the birdies

We sailed back down the Ganges and passed the crematories where there were two burning bodies, it all seemed quite strange in a good way.  We stepped off the boat and walked past the Ghats into the narrow streets of Varanasi.  We walked for a while through slippery brown streets and found a little vendor selling fried potato things… I had two and they were absolutely delicious!  Our walked continued through the streets only big enough for two people but somehow scooters and bikes managed to squeeze through and pass us.  There were lots of dogs and even more cows that lived along the streets here doing as they pleased, sometimes in the middle of traffic.  It wasn’t long before we were back in the car and headed to the hotel for breakfast… and shower.

The burning Gahts.

Getting the body ready.

He charged me for the photo...

My lovely cows.

Where I had a snack or two...

Not that I felt dirty at, I felt fairly refreshed but I figured it would be a good idea to shower just in case.  I headed up for a quick breakfast and then to the silk shop to see if I couldn’t find a material for a saree that I enjoyed… I did!  It is a beautiful turquoise color that matches my hair and green eyes, I tried many fabrics but this was the one I spotted first and it went so well.

Off we went again to see different spots of Buddha and where he gave his first lesson and where some of his relics remain.  I really wanted to see the original bodhi tree that Buddha became enlightened under but was told that it was cut down so many years ago.  I was in absolute shock that a person could be capable of cutting down such a sacred and old tree… I can’t stand people sometimes.  We did see the grandson of the original tree and I bowed down to the tree in worship.

Next place we went was the place where Buddha’s relics are kept in a giant brick mound.  We walked around all the excavation grounds and saw all these gold squares pressed to the remains of everything, Krishna said this is what the pilgrims do to honor Buddha; like a promise they made if they made it here.  Next place we went was to the giant statue of Buddha that is 30 meters tall.  This is the place where I picked up a bodhi tree leaf and took it home with me… another thing for me to add to my collection.

Buddha would meditate somewhere here it is said

What is left

The Bodhi tree

A temple

Relics of Buddha inside.

The enormous statue of Buddha.

Finally it was time to go home for lunch, it couldn’t have come at a better time because I was so ready to start eating.  I had pizza and apple pie for lunch and soon enough we were off again on another adventure.

We met Krishna in a street somewhere and had tea from a street vendor… this would be my third time having it off the streets and can proudly say I haven’t gotten sick yet.  From this place we took buggies pulled by bikes to a cow house.  I met the nicest Brahma cows that were all married to one bull; he was absolutely massive!  He had the biggest head and face I have ever seen on a cow before.  When we left the house of cows we walked through the very small streets of Varanasi, if it weren’t for Krishna Don and I would have gotten very lost.  The streets honestly go everywhere and lead to nowhere; I think you have to be born here to know how to navigate the streets.  

Time for a ride.

MOOO

Cow!!!!!

He carries cow poo on his head.

All wires when you look up... and some monkeys too

Beautiful Bramha cow.

Finally we made it down to Mother Ganga again and took another boat ride up to see all the burning ceremonies going on.  I couldn’t believe how many bodies were being burned at a time; 10 bodies in total.  We even got to see a priest throw the last remains of a body part into the Ganges.  As we paddled up to the ceremonies to Mother Ganga all I could hear was singing and drums.  We found a place to sit right beside the men who were singing so beautifully and soon the devotees of Mother Ganga began.  There was lots of fire and smoke of different kinds coming from different things, bells ringing and chanting.  It was absolutely beautiful!  A little girl came up to me during the ceremony and started drawing silver and gold flowers on my hand and when she was done she ran off in to the crowd, it was the cutest thing ever.  At the end of the ceremony I got a red powdered bindi placed on my forehead and walked through the bazaars of Varanasi.  This is where I got my first Malah made of sacred seeds and sandalwood oil to rub on them every morning when I wake up.  It all smells so good!  As sad as it was to say goodbye it had to be done and that was the last time I will see Krishna… this year at least.

Finally back again

Even more burnings!

Thousands come here to watch.

Fire Power!

The bull lives in the shop, people say it is the shop owner reborn as the bull and watches over the store.

Goodbye new friend!

As soon as we got back to the hotel I went to try on my new Saree!  It was done so quickly and so perfectly that when I got back to my room I decided I would wear it to dinner with Don tonight.  The only problem was trying to wrap it around my body… it is honestly the most difficult piece of clothing to put on in the entire world.  I got so frustrated with the silly thing I ended up just putting on jeans and a shirt and left it.  Don paid for our last meal together, which only ended up being $12 as funny as that is and we reminisced about how amazing it is here.  Varanasi has got to be one of my most favorite places in India so far because it is just so beautiful here.  I must admit though that I got tears in my eyes every time we came to visit Mother Ganges or even when I thought about her, it was just that amazing down there.

I concluded my night with packing and a meditation with my new Malah; it smells so good with sandalwood oil on it.