My first week in Delhi was a whirlwind. From tracking my lost suitcase to learning a new city to starting work at the NGO,
Lakshyam. I hadn't planned to travel outside of Delhi (except for the Taj Mahal!), assuming it would be too difficult and expensive to go anywhere else in a weekend. But we had Friday off to celebrate Holi and all the other volunteers already planned a trip to Varanasi (one of the holiest and oldest cities in India). It's amazing how traveling creates instant community. The train was sold out, but I still hopped on with the others. Ticketless. My roommate and I shared a bunk on the 12 hour overnight ride. It's easier to sneak on the train than you'd think. Maybe skin color works a bit in my favor or the fact that I immediately fell asleep. The train security saw all the western names on the list and grouped me in with them. Off we went, lulled to sleep by the passing vendors calling out "Chai", "Pani", "Tomato Soup". I awoke to the most beautiful orange sunrise over the Indian countryside, bought a cup of chai, and waited for our arrival.
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| Before |
Our hostel hosted a Holi party on the rooftop where we took full advantage of the plates of colors and paper hats. Playing Holi was an unforgettable experience despite the negative side that has evolved out of the holiday. An excuse to drink into stupor. An excuse to grope and grab women. We learned when more than one local tells you not to walk down a road, maybe you should listen. And if you go outside on Holi, you're going to have buckets of colored (possibly dirty) water thrown on you from the balconies above. Good thing we had our water guns to protect us! Holi is also a joyful time signifying the victory of goodness over evil and the beginning of Spring. A time to repair relationships. A time to laugh and dance. To forget life's hardships for a day. I could definitely use more than one day a year to douse my friends (and strangers) in color. Also, in case you were wondering, pink makes for a lovely hair dye!
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| During |
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| After |
Once the chaos of the day died down, we set off to explore the tight alleyways of the oldest part of Varanasi and catch a glimpse of the ghats along the Ganges River. We surveyed the color "damage" from the celebration. No person, cow, dog, or goat escaped a dash of the bright powders.
We ended our first night with dinner at a rooftop restaurant. I don't know how my friend found it, but it was a little hidden gem amongst the narrow twists and turns of the city. The owner/chef's mother even came out with a "monkey stick" to protect us while we ate. First class service, right? The monkeys kept their distance and we enjoyed our food without any thieving hands. Later, we also discovered that sometimes monkeys like to act as gate keepers and in their own monkey growling way say "Thou shalt not pass". The key is to act calm and confidant. Fortunately, we survived without any bites or scratches.
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| Cremations being performed on the ghats |
My favorite memory, aside from being dyed all the colors of the rainbow, was our boat ride down the Ganges river. The sun setting into pinks and oranges as we rowed slowly through the water. A beautiful time learning about the Hindu culture and traditions of the city. And when in doubt, throw it in the Ganga! haha. It's one of the world's most polluted rivers for a reason.
I edited a quick video to show the Ganges river boat ride and Aarti ceremony (Hindu ritual performed everyday in Varanasi). Photos didn't quite capture the experience.
Next stop, Jodhpur!
<3 Taylor
Amazing! Love this too!
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