Our second day in Varanasi began with a sunrise cruise on the Ganges. The ghats were full of pilgrims getting their bathe on. The sun rose over over some low clouds and haze. With the smoke from the cremations rising 24/7, I don’t think the air here really ever clears. The good news is I can smell the sandalwood but nothing worse. It seems their technique is quite refined.
Cremations on the Ganges
Optional activities today included going to Sarnat, the location of Buddha’s first sermon. It contains a temple and a museum. A visit to a silk weaving co-op was the other.
I visited the silk weaving, Nicole squeezed both in.
Craftsmen designing patterns an hand punching card to tell the loom what to weave
A handwritten silk wedding Saree with silver thread and hand beaded
We left at 5am for Lumbini, Nepal. This was scheduled as a 10 hour drive. We were told the traffic would be bad and the road worse. We were horribly deceived. I can offer up no comparison to describe the condition of the road. It was like off-roading in a bus only not as fun. At about 4pm we cleared out of India and into Nepal. After a rough 10 minutes on rocks, the roads improved dramatically. After another hour we checked in to the Hotel Buddha Maya – a very nice place that alas, we were not destined to enjoy longer.
Lotus pond and Buddha statue as seen from our room balcony
Internet access seems less reliable the further we get from Delhi. I will post as available.
