Bodhgaya - birthplace of Buddhism

Hey everyone, Chrys here, reporting for blog duty.

We're currently in Bodhgaya, but before I get to that, there are some highlights from the rest of our time in Varanasi. Nina, Ben and Desmond did some fire=dancing with actual fire! A bunch of the girls made rings in jewely making class. We went on a sunrise boatride on the Ganges and on another day, took a boat ride across the river and had a picnic, traditional food cooked the traditional way, aka on a cow dung fire. We all really enjoyed our internships and kept busy. One night, a bunch of the girls went to an Indian wedding (it seemed there was at least one every night) and danced with some kids and had a blast. We came to really like our temporary home in Varanasi.

A few days ago we left for Bodhgaya on a very early morning train. While here, we've been doing some meditation, lectures adn meals at the Root Institute, a tibetan buddhist place, and are staying in a monastary. We've had several lively discussions sparked by our surroundings, about our personal philosophies and spirituality. We visited the MahaBodhi temple, which makres the place where the Buddha found enlightenment, and sat under part of that bodhi tree. It turns out we are here during the Tibetan New Year, so the MahaBodhi was pretty crowded!

There are Buddhist temples here from just about every majorly Buddhist country, which some of us have been checking out. Earlier today, we visited some caves wehre the Buddha spent six yers and six months meditating. It was pretty cool. The rickshaw ride there was definitely memorable, with it's bumps and turns, and also with all the animals we saw along the way, including cows (of course), water buffalo, goats, chicken, monekeys, cats and dogs. On our way to the caves, these rel young kids kept asking for rupees...and for kisses! It was a bit odd, tehy were like seven years old and followed us around!

It seems that at this point, we have all had a little bout with the expected traveller's diarrhea, which hasn't been the most fun part of the journey, but is to be expected. Everyone seems to be doing well now. In other group news, Ben shaved his head (there is a lot going on with haircuts it seems) and I think I'm next up for a haircut with Willa Rose. We've spent a lot of our free time in our short stay in Bodhgaya just chilling, avoiding the heat and exploring the city. Oh, and doing tarot readigns!

One interesting thing about Bodhgaya is that it seems the electricity is off during most of the day. It sometimes is barely noticeable, since it's so sunny and warm, and then in the evening the electricity comes back on and we can charge iPods and camera batteries (speaking of, we're going to try to add some photos to the blog when we're in Kolkata (Calcutta), feel the cool air from fans and...take hot showers! Everyone's been relly stoked about that, and the western toilets at the monastary where we're staying. A little comfort goes a long way.

Tonight, we get on a train for Kolkata, wehre we'll spend almost two weeks, volunteering at the Mother Theresa HOme for the Destitute, and soaking up this city that promises to be interesting and full of life. Our trip leaders are handing the reigns over to us a bit at this point in the trip, so Nina will be securing our accommodations in Kolkata and Hilary and I are rocking the itinerary, making sure we get to see the cultural sites and landmarks, as well as taking in a Bollywood movie, criquet games, hopefully enjoying the vibrant arts life of the city, and I am throwing in a strong vote for some some museum/planetarium stuff. It is sure to be a wild ride. Personally it was the part of our trip I was the most nervous about, but at this point, I'm psyched, and hope the rest of the group is too.

Well, running out of time here. I'm sure we'll update you more from Kolkata and as I said, try to load some pictures from various points along the way. Check you all later!

Varanasi...

So we are in this amazing city called varanasi, oh yeah! lots of bonding and good laughs flowing.

To start this blog off, "bridey" has officially changed her name to willa rose, which is awesome. There have been to recent hair stylings, thanks to our own willa rose, that have left the girls a bit short on the head (hillary and graham). As you may well know our beloved friend julia has left our group and decided to continue her journey at home, which we all respect as a mature decision for her situation. But we all do miss her dearly, and are working hard to somehow fill her void, but "everything is alright"(sing song for that).

We are all starting to delve into the cities personal aspect, i.e. getting close (but not too close) with the locals, which we are stoked about as in delhi it was hard to get away from the tourist to beggar relationship. The GODS ARE ALIVE here, and we got to experience a sunrise cruising along the ganges in a boat, very sturdy and well made, that took us to a temple at the far north end, bout hour and a half walk, edge of town. There we got some good snaps and got too see probably the largest wasps nests hanging from the arches, HUGE!

Our expert guide, Vinay Ji (don't hold me to the spelling), is full of little chuckles and has no problem keeping us entertained with his witty knowledge and seemingly infinite wisdom. Speaking of wisdom, we had a quite eye opening lecture by a local guru/philosopher, age 72 and can't remember his name, sorry, who provided some clarity and insight to indian culture, provoking thought and centering in the group.

Every day, pretty much the best part in a way, we indulge in around 3 to 4 cups of the most amazing chai tea EVER, no joke, sometimes in tiny clay cups or little glass ones you return...very classy. Probably the best part is when we are able to splurge on gifts or huge meals, then at the end of the day we recap the amount to about a total of 5 to 10 dollars in all, soooo awesome. Almost everyone you pass is very friendly, welcoming our presence with smiles and offering to buy you a cup of chai...we love it here.

Well, signing off for now, but good talking to you, all this chai is getting us thirsty for more. Peace, love and infinite happiness...Namaste to you all...Ben and Willa Rose~

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hello out there in Bloggerville-

just throwin out a test blog of sorts. we have been experiencing technical difficulties and our last blog got lost in cyberspace. Stand by...