Varanasi Day 2

I get up at 5am ready for the sunrise boat trip on he Ghanges. I have been pretty sick all night but don't feel too bad tday considering.

When I get down to the Ghanges Im met by boat man who straight away tells me " you know Goldie Hawn, she always comes on my boat"!

Instantly Im struck by the array of colours on the Ghange as our boat sails up the sun is just starting to rise, it looks stunning. People are going about their daily bussiness washing, practising yoga, praying, doing laundry etc. It amuses me to see the ladies in the pretty sari's hitched up slightly but oh so elegantly, bathing in these filthy waters. The water here makes the Thames look like mineral water!

Once we have sailed along we stop and a lady brings me some chai. It's very relaxing watching the sun come up, drinking chai. After I have finised drinking my chai my boatman reaches into the water and washes his hands face and swills his mouth with the water. alarm bells set ringing in me ...was that Ghange water in that chai........ I ask him and he laughs ensuring me it was boiled water. I feel better but my suspicious mind still ticks away and I resign myself to death.... ;-)

As we sail back down we see a man gettng shaved, people saluting the sun to yoga chants. I think my mum would have been joining in hahaha. As we get futher down a see alot of smoke and cows, this is a burial. The men carry their dead down to teh Ghancge and burn them. As a metter of respect photos are forbidden. there are piles of ash everywhere, and the boatman tells me once the corpse has beeen cremated to ash the family come down and look through the ash for the gold teeth etc. It is clear to see why Varanasi is probaby one of the holiest city's in Inia.

After the boat ride we wander the winding streets. The boat man insists on taking me to his home to show me the Goldie Hawn picture. I have problems with teh cows touchigng me and blocking my way in teh narrow streets. They dont seem to like me. I start to feel a bit like Gillian McKeith in "Im a Celeb, GET ME OUT OF HERE" hahah Im scared of everything. The cows repeatdly smack me on the arse with their tail when I walk past them...oh god even the cows are pervy here! ;-)

We arive at the house and i sit on floor level cusions. Im offered chai, water, coke etc. I decline as I feel i will be made to buy something. I get introduced to teh boatmans brother and then the Goldie Hawn photo, that sure enough does exist. His brother then tells me how much Goldie likes his silk scarfs. just as I suspected I knew there would be a catch. I say my polite thanks yous, Namaste etc and leave.

Once back at the hotel I sleep most of the afternoon. Im really worn out from sleepless night, sickness, the heat and early morning start. In the eveing I pop down to the Old Town for a wanfer and some food. I find a nice cafe and decide on something simple until this bug clears. I go for spinach panackes. I head back to my hotel and climb into bed thinking it has been the best day yet.