Arriving in Uganda at night

Arriving in Uganda at night, I forgot how dark it is, not a whole lot by way of competeing lights. And I was reassured at the airport that the Ugandan government hasn't had a case of Ebolla since August 24th. .. why do they even mention that?
I am staying at the home of one of the teachers and her family, give the status of the hotels around here, I think I lucked out.

My bedroom, with mosquito net of course

Outside on the verandha- it is nice and cool here compared to India.

Cremation sites

Today we also went to one of the ghats that is a sacred cremation site for Hindus. It was an uncomfortable place for me.  People believe that dying here in Varanasi ensures a clear pathway, if they don't come here to die, families will often bring the bodies here from other parts. I have seen more dead bodies in the weeks here then ever in my life.  They carry the bodies through the tight alley ways on a wooden stretcher to this spot where the family selects the wood and the eternal fire, the better the wood the more expensive the cremation. They have it down to a science, about three hours per body. They cremate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are only men allowed on the site and typically the oldest male relative accompanies the body. The ashes are spread in the Ganges.  The cremation is done by the untouchable cast (contrary to what the Indian government says the caste system is alive and well.) You can pay one of the guys standing around to take up to where the pyres are built, smoke billowing off. I politely declined. 

These two

These two were on the there way to school this morning. You can see the boy has coal around his eyes which mothers use to ward off evil spirits. 

all that is missing.....

This is not the best photo, all that is missing is a cow, a 100 people or so and the smell, you have a pretty good idea what the streets are like around here.  ( I took this early this morning)

Bathing in the Ganges

This morning there were people bathing in the Ganges, it cleans away all your sin. I will upload video when I get home... it is really quite something.

Hindu evening ceremony

Thousands of people come to visit the river every day, in the evening they have a ceremony...

Preparing for the ceremony...

On the banks of the Ganges River

Just to get to the river you have to go through narrow streets lined with beggars and garbage, thousands of pilgrims and holy men making there way to the sacred river.

Boat men, the river is really high right now because the monsoon season came late, the river is following very fast and very high so they are reluctant to take people out.

Looking back at the ghat, there are steps here that lead into the river, but it is flooded right now.

Sarnath

Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his first sermon, and meet his first disciples. It is considered one of the most hoy Buddhist sites and many pilgrims come here from all over the world to pay respects.

The tall stupa marks the spot where Buddha met his first disciples.

Monastery grounds

Always the school groups....

The girls were polite and reserved;

The boys were crazy... and liked to follow me around.

Jain temple at Ranakpur

I had never been to a Jain temple before and I will say that this one was really extraordinary...

Inside the temple, fully covered and no shoes...

Udaipur

So far Udaipur has been my favorite city... beside a shimmering lake, it was cool and green....

This is the view from my room...

I took a boat ride on the lake...

Jaipur... some photos from today

Today I went for a walk in the city, I must admit that just being in India is exhausting, there is a hyper awareness to all the people, sounds, traffic moving around you at all times.

Overlooking the city...

Boys waiting for school....

Local vegetable market...

Monkeys everywhere, the little ones are cute and the big ones are scary.

Henna!

The henna was in a tube with a fine point, she drew the design on my hand...

Then you let it dry for about an hour or so...

Jaipur

Inside the palace

Jaipur, the Amber fort... I am still working out all the Maharajas and who did what...

Water palace built for summer time, they made the lake around the palace... it has since flooded

Jantar Mantar: one of the Maharaja's was interested in astronomy and built this observatory in the early 1700's

like no place ever

This morning we came upon a group of men, at first I thought they were angry, arguing about a car accident perhaps, they had a sullen look on their faces and were gathered in a tight group in the middle of the road.  Then the driver pointed out the body.  I turned my head to see the body, believing  the accident had been deadly. They had been carrying a body laid out on a wooden stretcher. The body was covered in a bright red cloth with gold embroidery around the edges, she trailed rose petals. The procession of men were delivering her to the spot where they would cremate her and then her family would take the ashes to the Ganges River.  As I sat in the backseat of the car pondering the passing of this unknown woman, watching the procession of men proceeding off down the road, the talk turned to elephants. 

Snake charmers

They assured me "no poison, no poison"
"ya right, like I want to test this theory!" I thought
The hissing and way they strike with their heads was a bit disconcerting, he wanted me to hold the head and I said No way.

Elephant Ride!

Elephant taxi stand...

Keoladeo National Park-- Thanks Dad!

A quick couple of pictures of the hotel I stayed in last night...

Admittedly I wasn’t as excited about visiting the bird sanctuary as I have been to see other sites, but I knew that my Dad would appreciate it and therefore I would too. Mr. Singh was my guide, he referred to his rickshaw as a helicopter and explained to me that he has been living in Bharatpur his whole life and just really loves the birds.(He did seem impressed by some of my bird knowledge... again thanks Dad!) He learns the birds by remembering them in his head and then going home and looking them up.  “No official study, just love the birds.” He also explained that his wife gets very angry;  “ you think more about birds then me sometimes” he said with smile.  

Mr. Singh, he took me on a two hour tour of the park.

Peacock everywhere, they also have a very distinctive call.

Giant storks nesting in the trees in the background.

Just a view...

Red Fort

Just walking in to the red fort, beautiful sandstone.

Taken inside the fort, traditional Mughal architecture, they often brought in artisans from Iran and Turkey.

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A very hot and sweaty day... the Taj is in the background. This is the view that the builder of the Taj would have had when his son imprisoned him.