Very early start today as we had to fly to Varanassi. First domestic flight on Spice Jet. It was very disappointing to not have any goats and chickens on the plane, however Chantelle, Muhamed and I lucked out with having a phlegm clearer right behind us. We decided that a screaming baby would have been much nicer behind us. Lol. Never the less, we could not move from Mr Phlegm Clearer so we decided to score each throat clearing. He only got as high as an 8, so perhaps we were too tough at judging.
Varanassi airport is beautiful and in the middle of no where. The plane parked a mile from the terminal and we had to bus it back. Couldn't work out why we parked so far away as we were the only plane, it was suggested that perhaps the pilots were very bad drivers and may hit their pretty new building.
We then all crammed in to a small bus which we understood later to be necessary for the roads we will travel on to get to our Rajpur destination.
The trip to Rajpur was due to take 2.5 hours but after a quick stop for food and lot's of traffic the trip took us four hours. It was an opportunity to see the Ganges for the first time and we crossed over it on a steel arch bridge. We were very high above the river and it was an amzing view as very wide decorative steps went from the City of Varanassi down to the water edge. There are sail boats and paddle boats on the river and people simply bathing or completing the washing.
We were stopped at a railway crossing for about half an hour. The road is about two car wide which then has at least three or four cars wide on it. At the railway crossing the cars on each side all push forward to make the cars parked four wide. Then when the railway gate finally opens the cars all try to move forward at the same time and there is no where to go so we are all stuck longer. So funny.
Our bus climbed some very steep hills over taking intricately decorated Indian trucks. Rajpur is located high above the ground level on a plateau. Our destination for the night in Rajpur was on the edge of an agricultural area and National Reservation Jungle. The Tent Retreat is an oasis, with a surrounding creek bed and all our swiss tents all set up ready for arrival. They were not quite like the photo I had previously blogged but they were definitely brilliant and even had a bathroom, but the plumbing was a bucket of water. #in the morning the staff carried fresh buckets of water to each tent which we called running water...haha
After we settled in we had snacks around the campfire which were very yummy samosas and drinks, lot's of drinks. Some locals came to entertain us by playing traditional indian music including two men dressed up as females to dance. Traditionally these groups used to go to meet the returning landowner (when travel was by cart or foot) and play music for him to tell the story of everything that had happened while they were away. Men played the female dancing role as women stayed home to look after the children.
One by one we all dragged up to join in with the dancing, well all except Vu, he didn't need dragging, he couldn't stop dancing. I've invented my own form of Bollywood dancing which is a cross between shuffling and Indian dance. We had so much fun and the drinks were flowing. Vu was getting quite close to one of the Indian dancers.....
Dinner was served about 9 and was all home made with all ingredients grown on the tent retreat owners surrounding farm. As usual the food was beautiful, I have not had a bad meal yet and luckily (knock on wood) have had no illness yet. A few of the other students have been sick. I thought I would lose weight here but I am eating so much, plus I can get my favorite gulab janu all over, so good.
At dinner we had so much fun as we have all become such good friends. Ebrihem from Bahrain is know as my brother (we share birthdates), he is neighbour to my room mate Chantal and engaged to Charlene from South Africa (another student here). Of course this is all an elaborate joke that entertains the locals when they try to work out how arab looking Ebrahim and this freckle faced white girl could be siblings. After dinner there was much discussion about Indian politics and cultural diversities, it was really intriguing and entertaining listening to the Indian perspectives and then the Arab, Vietnamese etc interpretations.
Shubh raatri. (good night)
Varanassi airport is beautiful and in the middle of no where. The plane parked a mile from the terminal and we had to bus it back. Couldn't work out why we parked so far away as we were the only plane, it was suggested that perhaps the pilots were very bad drivers and may hit their pretty new building.
We then all crammed in to a small bus which we understood later to be necessary for the roads we will travel on to get to our Rajpur destination.
The trip to Rajpur was due to take 2.5 hours but after a quick stop for food and lot's of traffic the trip took us four hours. It was an opportunity to see the Ganges for the first time and we crossed over it on a steel arch bridge. We were very high above the river and it was an amzing view as very wide decorative steps went from the City of Varanassi down to the water edge. There are sail boats and paddle boats on the river and people simply bathing or completing the washing.
 |
| The Ganges - this is a clear day. |
We were stopped at a railway crossing for about half an hour. The road is about two car wide which then has at least three or four cars wide on it. At the railway crossing the cars on each side all push forward to make the cars parked four wide. Then when the railway gate finally opens the cars all try to move forward at the same time and there is no where to go so we are all stuck longer. So funny.
 |
| Our bus driver likes to play chicken with the oncoming trucks. |
Our bus climbed some very steep hills over taking intricately decorated Indian trucks. Rajpur is located high above the ground level on a plateau. Our destination for the night in Rajpur was on the edge of an agricultural area and National Reservation Jungle. The Tent Retreat is an oasis, with a surrounding creek bed and all our swiss tents all set up ready for arrival. They were not quite like the photo I had previously blogged but they were definitely brilliant and even had a bathroom, but the plumbing was a bucket of water. #in the morning the staff carried fresh buckets of water to each tent which we called running water...haha
 |
| Indoor plumbing - flushed by bucket of water. Don't want to know where it exits |
 |
| My roomie Chantal |
One by one we all dragged up to join in with the dancing, well all except Vu, he didn't need dragging, he couldn't stop dancing. I've invented my own form of Bollywood dancing which is a cross between shuffling and Indian dance. We had so much fun and the drinks were flowing. Vu was getting quite close to one of the Indian dancers.....
Dinner was served about 9 and was all home made with all ingredients grown on the tent retreat owners surrounding farm. As usual the food was beautiful, I have not had a bad meal yet and luckily (knock on wood) have had no illness yet. A few of the other students have been sick. I thought I would lose weight here but I am eating so much, plus I can get my favorite gulab janu all over, so good.
At dinner we had so much fun as we have all become such good friends. Ebrihem from Bahrain is know as my brother (we share birthdates), he is neighbour to my room mate Chantal and engaged to Charlene from South Africa (another student here). Of course this is all an elaborate joke that entertains the locals when they try to work out how arab looking Ebrahim and this freckle faced white girl could be siblings. After dinner there was much discussion about Indian politics and cultural diversities, it was really intriguing and entertaining listening to the Indian perspectives and then the Arab, Vietnamese etc interpretations.
Shubh raatri. (good night)
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