Leaving India Behind

As I look at India in the rearview mirror,  I have to reflect on the last 16 days. It’s like a whirlwind. I have seen so much an experienced so much. I’m having a hard time taking it all in.

India has a little bit of everything. It has great poverty.  Looking at how some of the people live brings tears to one size. It’s astounding to see people living in such conditions. The absolute chaos on the roads. I’m sure there are rules of the road I just have no idea what that could possibly be. The crowds Of people walking in the streets and at the markets are daunting.  I don’t know what I would do if I had to fight those crowds every time I needed to go shopping.

I’m completely mystified by the religion. The majority of the people I Hindu but there are also a great deal of Muslim. They don’t get along at all and that is very clear. When we visited the home  of the young woman who was Muslim and it just married a Hindu, she spoke of the problems that society could get them. I enjoyed visiting the temples and although I’ve heard about many of the guides I know I haven’t gotten them straight at all. I do know that many homes have a statue of Ganesh at Their doors for good luck. Ganesh is the god that looks like an elephant.

Visiting Varanasi was a highlight.I am not sure I understand their ritual of cremation but I certainly have a better understanding than I did before. I also don’t understand the fascination with the Ganges. The level of pollution in the river is like nothing I’ve seen elsewhere and I just don’t understand where the people there than it is it a drink from it. However, I am fascinated by the hordes of people, the ritual,  and the festive nature of people‘s reaction to being at the Ganges.

Well as crazy and chaotic as it all seems, I loved every minute of being in India. I love the people, I love the food and I love the fact that so much more to learn. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface with this trip. I have yet to experience the south, Mumbai, and Calcutta. I am sure in many ways they’ll be the same but I also think they will be very different and I look forward to when I can go and see at all.

I can honestly say this will not be my last trip to India.  I look forward to start planning my next trip. It’s all such a wonderful experience.
Here are a few pictures that I have not published yet:




































Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Qutub Mintar and Other Destinations

Image
Another day of great weather! It is hot but manageable. 91 degrees is liveable. Today was an opportunity to see some more of the Mughal ruins. This area was built be Shah Jahan, the same guy that buil the Taj Mahal. And what better way to get there but by subway. The New Delhi subway is clean and efficient and also cheap. $.40 will get me to my destination.unfortunately it is a mile away from the Qutub Mintar.  This was another very interesting monument. First of all, the tower is the tallest in New Delhi. Much of it was built in the 16 1700s. It was extremely crowded. I thought I was going to have to stand in this very large line till I realized it was a separate entrance for foreigners. Of course you paid about 12  Times the cost of a local, it was nice to be able to go right up to the window pay my money and walk into the attraction. Inside were hundreds of families and school field trip‘s. Everybody was milling around and taking in all of the buildings in the ruins of t...
Read more

Sunrise at Varanasi!

Image
We were up at five this morning for a 530 bus call. We are on the bus in no time and ready for our next adventure here in the city of Varanasi.  Would begin what seem to be a sleepy ride through the city street with people sleeping on the streets and in grassy areas anywhere. All of a sudden street were completely blocked but thousands of people. They were parades and people drinking. People were walking in the street  and sitting on floats dressed as the gods. Vendors with selling kewpie dolls and horn’s and things that we would sell at a parade. I have to check my watch to see the time and yes it was 530 in the morning. According  to our guide this was left over partying from the night before .  The closest thing I could come to what it might be equal to his Mardi Gras. Finally we had to abandon us as we were unable to move any further into the crowd. We now were able to walk amongst the revelers and people are almost in the frenzy. It was scary and exciting a...
Read more