India

ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN ORANGE CLOTH .TWO BODIES AWAIT  CREMATION..

CONSTANT CREMATIONS TAKING PLACE..A NEW FIRE IS READY TO BE LIT.

THE GHATS AT VARANASI...

NON STOP CREMATIONS ON ALL LEVELS..

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Varanasi : Uttar Pradesh.

.Varanasi.. A most interesting destination and one that is extremely religious to the Hindu people.Varanasi is for most the destination to complete their life, for it is here that they will be cremated in one of the many cremation sites along the banks of The sacred Ganges River.
 Varanasi is extremely hot at this time  24 hours a day..so much so that it is difficult to be out in the sun for too long only possible in early morning or late evening for any long period of time. A walk through" The Ghats" The area by the river where the cremations are constantly happening is quite an experience. Where I am staying organises a walking tour that includes a very informative look at "the Ghats" and also a boat trip on the Ganges and passing by many of the cremation sites. Here we see the funeral and cremation process from the river..where the body wrapped in yellow / orange cloth and ribbon is carried down to the river followed by family and friends of the departed.and here it is immersed in the river before before being carried back to its designated area covered with the special "sandalwood" and set alight. The wood id apparently covered with a type of ghee or butter to accelerate the ignition process of the fire. The Sandalwood is chosen as the wood to be used so as to avoid the smell of the burning body..The purchase of the wood is tightly controlled by certain families and I am told that it is a very expensive part of the cremation process for a poor family. The body is cremated on a certain level designated by the river depending on the Class or caste of the person to be cremated. the shoreline is stacked with huge heaps of sandalwood ready to be sold and used in this constant process.
A part of this long tour is a visit to a place where there is what appears to be a concert type celebration with Music, dancing  soon our boat is surrounded by many boats...then hundreds come to this place where there appears to be at least a half a million people..it is incredibly hot..I buy some water from a most welcomed water seller..I tip one over my head..the releif is instant..it must be at least 46 degrees. This Celebration is called the "Ganga Celebration" (Ganga Aartti) and is a Hindu celebration that is held each night at The Ghats by the sacred River, first started in 1992 and has gathered in huge popularity since at the famous "ghat"of Varanasi  Dashashwamedh  Ghat ceremony and is a worship to the Ganga River and Lord Shiva..
 The next day I prepare to leave Varannasi for Agra.. (I have many photos to attatch soon ) thanks for reading..

India

ALL STEAMED UP AT GHUM RAILWAY STATION..

READY TO GO SOON...!!!

BREAK UP THAT COAL INTO SMALLER PIECES..

STOKE UP THE BOILER.

THE "TOY BLUE TRAIN " OF THE DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY

Darjeeling : West Bengal :

Today i have my train booked for Varanassi from Jaipalguri..but first I must get a share taxi down the mountain to the Railway Station @ Jaipalguri NGP 125 kilometers away..I have decided to leave an hour earlier than needed in case of problems.(This proves to be a good decision.).The morning is a blanket of heavy fog and expect this to make the trip down the mountain even more slower..it is 7.30 AM and my train departs Jaipalguri at 12.05 PM.
As expected the many share jeeps travelling down the mountain and roads are clogged also with bad visibility.. I reach the Station at Jaipalguri not too soon as I find my platform #19 and the 12.05 Rajasthan express pulls in..I really don't have a lot of time as the train just stops here for ten minutes..I am hurrying now as I am traveling class A2 AC. and my.coach is about three quarters of a kilometer up the platform..as I am hurrying the handle breaks on my bag that I am pulling..OH NO..!!! what next..I'm out of puff and I don't  feel as fit as I thought that I was. A kind man sees my predicament and helps me..So good ..as I feel I would not have made it to the end of the platform in time... I find my coach # , my seat #,  and am so pleased to be in out of the extreme heat..so hard after the coolness of the mountains. Here in my berth I find also four Ghurka soldiers of the Indian Defence Force..They are extremely kind and help me when the train arrives early in Varanassi.They wake me as i am sleeping and really don't know where i would have finished up.!!!  The train reaches Varanassi on time at 2 AM..not a good time to arrive and look down the long empty platform and am glad that I have organised a pickup from the Hostel where I am to stay.The pickup arrives at the Railway Station to my releif and in no time am at the hostel "Stops Hostel". This I find is a  good place to stay,  and as I arrive at 2 AM they let me sleep in the  Common Room with air con free...Varanassi is a really very interesting destination also very hot....

India

WOMEN "TEA PICKERS" IN THE MIDST

Darjeeling :  West Bengal.

 Due to bad communications and and a few problems have been rather slow at updating my blog..and now with good communication feel that It is possible.. As mentioned in a previous post my reasons for going up to Darjeeling were a few..The main one being to ride the famous. "Toy Train " of The Darjeeling Himalayan railways and look forward to posting some great pics on here...another reason was to get to a cooler area for awhile  to avoid the extreme temperatures in the south.. Unfortunately after a day in Darjeeling I acquired really bad food poisoning that grounded me " for four days." hence the lack of information that I have been able to post.. The owner of the guesthouse where I was staying helped me immensely in my dire time of need and now am doing my best to rebuild some strength...I will write more in depth about my wonderful ride on the "Blue Train" and all that is involved in doing so.. One other problem that I overlooked was the acclimatisation period in coming to terms with the high altitudes here in Darjeeling.  This excaserbated my predicament at the time.

  .The views from my balcony on some days were spectacular with most of the time due to the altitude it was in the clouds and fog mostly.I was disappointed in the fact that the time that I had allotted for my visit to Sikkim had to be be put off for another time as was still feeling rather weak to travel., also think that the extra few thousand feet in altitude would have been too difficult at the time .I was really surprised at the amazing traffic congestion in Darjeeling and expected the air to be of a better quality...this is due to the what seem like hundreds of "Jeep" share taxis that make the daily runs to Gangtok in Sikkim and to the Main Railway Sation  at(Jaipilguri ) some four hours back down the mountain...while at the station .I also book my onward train ticket to Varanassi for the day after ...more to come soon now that I have good comp...communication..thanks for reading.. and your interest..Darjeeling is famous the world over for its fine teas that are grown here in these high altitudes...Going down to mountain i saw many women "picking Tea" in the mist as I was going down the mountain in my" share taxi".. Also to be seen is a huge military presence that is in these highland regions with big military bases protecting Indians northern borders..

                      WOMEN "TEA PICKERS" IN THE MOUNTAINS OF DARJEELING.

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India

GHUM..THE SECOND HIGHEST RAILWAY STATION IN THE WORLD.

KEEP SHOVELING THAT COAL..

ALL ABOARD..

THE SCENE ON A GOOD CLEAR DAY FROM DARJEELING

THE "TOY BLUE TRAIN" AT GHUM STATION...THE SECOND HIGHEST RAILWAY STATION IN THE WORLD.

Darjeeling:: West Bengal.

Today I arrived in Darjeeling after a rather long journey by o/night train from Kolkata..but first I will go back to Kolkata from where this journey originated.The temperatures in Kolkata were for me rather overwhelming and decided after coming north from Chennai I would continue north mainly to avoid the extreme temperatures around 45 degrees and head for the mountains of Darjeeling...after a four hour wait to purchase a ticket at the booking office in Kolkata on the Train # 12343" Darjeeling Mail" I was in buisiness...once again the train station experience is one of bewilderrment with this "mass" of people in the train station concourse some sitting, lying standing sleeping people laying allover the cool marble floors with masses going in different direction laying in amongst or carrying all forms of luggage ,bags, boxes, suitcases.women struggling with their baggages and children while trying to negotiate a pathway through this tsunami of travellers.
.Ahh!. .looking for destination boards !!! train #, platform # coach # seat #..am I in the correct place.!!! I love trains but sometimes the "getting to your seat / bed is a major..I am in a carriage right up front of the train ..it must be nearly a kilometer long...the heat is oppresive..I am carrying three litres of water that seems to deminish rather quickly. I find my coach # 1A ,.I look forward to sitting down at last...The Darjeeling Mail  departs  on time at 22.05.....this is an O/night journey that arrives on time at 08.00  This is another station and is the termination  at the foot of the mountain...Here I find a share taxi and then it is a three hour road journey in a packed jeep up the windiest road I think I have ever experienced with just enough room for two  vehicles to pass..we pass hundreds of acres of Darjeeling tea plantations..the scenery  starts to be really spectacular as we keep climbing soon the fog is thick and we are really in the clouds Finally we reach Darjeeling at the top of the mountain.for it is here that I have come to ride the "Toy Train" The little blue train that is quite famous part of The Himalaya Railway( but more of that tomorrow.). My guesthouse has spectacular views I see as there is a break in the clouds..There is a rest period here to recharge my batteries.I will stay here for three days until I can enter Sikkim..I have a permit that I obtained in Kolkata..The temperature is noticeably much cooler here temperature has a 20-25 degree difference from Kolkata..air is clean and  wonderful..but must adjust a bit to the altitude now..I feel that I am at the " roof of the world".

India

THE WONDERFUL CHENNAI "CENTRAL"  RAILWAY STATION   CHENNAI

WASHING DAY..

THE PLACE TO STAY IN CHENNAI.

MARKET  CHENNAI..

Chennai : Tamil Nadu.

My introduction to India:    Upon my arrival in Chennai this was one of a breath taking experience ...literally..as I found out after going through Immigration formalities, and once upon leaving the airport building to be hit with an overwhelming blast of "the heat of the day " and apparently a record here in Chennai also as I was told, with the huge humidity factor  to add to the temperature I was told that it was 50 plus degrees. This was a new experience in fatigue...after just a short time...I was just so glad to reach my destination .." The Red Lollipop Hostel.". and what a great place it is...can't say enough "good remarks about this hostel, also in a great location
Chennai was a period of coming to terms with the oppressively hot temperatures and during the mid part of the day it was a case of  finding somewhere cool it is certainly too hot to go" out and about" exploring.I visit Hard Rock Chennai with some American friends we all welcome a big hamburger with the lot..I also get my guitar pin..Another night we visit "Everything BBQ" this reputed to be the best in the city ( I hope to post pics on here soon..) This was really a great place with a BBQ done at the table..a memorable experience.. I decide that it is way to hot here in Chennai and change my plans from travelling west to Cochin and the coast and go to  Chennai Central Railway Station where I quickly find the "Foreigners " booking office that have a special allotment of tickets for foreign travelers.and easily obtain a ticket on the "Coromadel Express" to Kalkota.I also check out the station so as I will know where to go when leaving...once again masses of travelers coming and going with  people and baggage scattered allover..Indian trains and their marvellous Train Stations ...something else..such an unbeleiveable network of trains..a legacy from British rule.

Sri Lanka.

THE HUGE TEMPLE STATUE ON THE POINT.

TRINCOMALEE'S POST OFFICE.

ANOTHER SCENE FROM THIS HUGE TEMPLE.

 LOVELY DEER ROAM FREE EVERYWHERE

LOVELY BEACHES HERE

WATER IS CLEANER HERE IN TRINCO..

Trincomallee. SRI LANKA :

Today here in Trincomalee locally known as " Trinco " and located at the north eastern coastal part of the island .Trinco has a major port  to handle shipping, and Trinco is also known for its many lovely beaches and is a very popular tourist destination..I am here for two days and today once again I hired a Tuk-Tuk to see the various sites that are to be seen here..I have found that Tuk- Tuk hire is a cheap an ideal way to get about to the places that you choose to visit..They are prolific and there is always one there when you want one...just you need good nerves to travel this way.. The trip here from Kandy was a seven hour bus trip as trains were booked out..I must note here that anyone considering a bus journey here in Sri Lanka should be prepared for a "white knuckle " ride..as the  travel by a long distance bus ride  is raised to a new level of awareness...with the majority of this journey being done on the wrong side of the road..I dont usually travel bus if I can at all avoid it.. .My Tuk-Tuk driver makes a visit to show me the the beach and waits while I have a quick 'dip"..another stop was at the top of the point where there is located  a huge Hindu Temple..that overlooks the ocean..This is a wonderful structure painted brightly and with a long history..I also visit The Main Railway Station and make a booking for my overnight train journey return to Colombo. These postcards are card souvenirs that I have posted home...
I will write more on this page as I don't have my notes with me at this time....
 I will add pics and cards soon for this place...

Sri Lanka.

COOLING OFF ON A VERY HOT HUMID DAY..

NOW BE A GOOD BOY

DONT LIKE THE CHAINS MUCH !!

A GOOD COOL OFF AGAIN..

Kandy: SRI LANKA.

A train journey of some five hours from The Main Railway Station ( The Fort ) in Colombo sees my arrival in Kandy. I travel on this trip 2nd Class as all of 1st  class is booked ..but I prefer the second class journey.. Here once again I try to locate a friend as I want to photograph some elephants..I hire a Tuk Tuk for the day and get to visit many different sites on the day ..The most prominent site for me was the "Elephant Bath" a local Elephant foundation for the preservation of the Elephants here.. Located about 80 kilometers  out of Kandy at a place called Pennuwalla.This is where you can get in the river with the elephants and "bathe an elephant" this was quite different...safety always a factor... and although all the elephants had a "mahout",   I was a bit dissapointed with their leg chains...on the day , on my Tuk- Tuk journey, I also visited a Spice garden, Tea Plantation where one tried the various flavours , and can purchase the local product..we stopped also at a Botanical Garden with various lovely tropical flowers and plants.
    Most afternoons see a thunderstorm with heavy rain but at least it cools things down...here because of its elevation the days a are a little cooler. I stop for my daily coconut water (milk ) I love it.. so refreshing...so inexpensive and safer than local water...and nourishing as well.. a win win.The woman makes short work of the coconut with her big sharp knife..

I AWAIT WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION..

SHE'S DONE THIS BEFORE..