Busy, Busy, Busy

Lots of you have inquired "so what exactly do you do all day?"

Well, here in Varanasi we have been super busy. Not just avoiding cow poop either...we've got a schedule.

We've been getting up every day to watch the sun rise a bit before 6am. It's the best time of day to wander around, watch all the crazy stuff happening on the river and drink chai. This morning we took a boat ride and saw both a cow and pig carcass. (gross) There is also great light here, beautiful old buildings, tons of cool colors, sights and sounds. There are temples everywhere and people doing pujas (prayers and offerings) with flowers, fire and tons of music. Hindus believe that if you die in Varanasi you won't be reborn again, so lots of people come here to die and be liberated from reincarnation.

Here's the kind of cool stuff you see on the river....fascinating. Note...he's wearing a little man thong, so you don't have to shield your eyes.

At 9am we had our first cooking class of the day. Dan and I have been taking cooking classes from 2 different women here in their homes. Now, I'm not saying that I'm now a fabulous chef or anything, but we're having fun. So far, we've learned to make samosas, palak paneer, alu gobi, alu subsie, vegetable curry, parathas, rice pudding and several chutneys.

Here is the lunch we made today -- pretty good huh?!?!??!



Noon- 3pm -- Cooking class number 2.

4pm- 6pm -- On a far too full stomach, roll into our yoga class. We found this hilarious teacher here named Sunil Kumar and we've been taking private lessons. The dude is on crack. He's into laughing yoga. I mean look at him...he's nuts!



Yesterday, there was a mosquito biting me during class. I was trying to kill it while holding my yoga pose. Sunil came over to help and said:

"Some Buddists believe that it is wrong to kill any living creature. I don't. Plus, if it is killed here in Varanasi it will be liberated from the cycle of life." Followed by hysterical laughter.

7pm - Random astrological reading done by a guy named Guru-ji. Not much on the mark.
He said:

• I have stomach problems -- nope
• I'm a writer -- nope
• 10 years ago I had a major problem -- nope
• When I'm 38 years old I'll be really fast -- cool
  
  
  Dan was going to get a reading too. After hearing mine, he faked a stomach illness and we left.
  
  We leave tomorrow evening on the train to Delhi to meet up with my mom and dad -- so stay tuned for tales of Sharon and Frugal Bernie in India!