Indian Chai Tea on the Street

I really never liked chai tea until experiencing it in India. Marsala chai tea is tea with added spices, not hot spices but many flavorful spices like green and black cardmon, black peppercorn, clove and cinnamon... And of course milk. 

Having tea on the city streets is a social event, the place to discuss politics and local gossip. On the way back from the boat trip in Varanasi, our guide Jai ordered up some Marsala chai from the street vendor. It is served in the traditional little clay pots as it has been for hundreds of years. The pots are then tossed out, not reused. With the advent of plastics, the clay pot makers are unfortunately losing their jobs, but alas environmental concerns are bringing the clay pots back :)

Cottage Industry in the Alley Homes of Varanasi

Our guide Jai led us through the alleys of the city of Varanasi to get a glimpse of inner city life. He pointed out how the Hindu and Muslim people mixed and got along well despite their deep religious differences. The children welcomed this band of strangers in their backyard, they welcomed pictures and wanted pictures of us. They would laugh loudly when we showed the their images in the pictures we took. We observed an alley cricket game and the happiness and joy of their life in these narrow alleys. 

As we walked Jai said "listen" ... By every opening to a home you could hear machinery running - these were motor driven looms cranking out beautiful designs in silk fabric. Bed spreads, shawls, women's saris were all being made here in various colors and shapes. In a typical home you could see a motorcycle pulled back in the back and hear the hum of a spinning loom. I could tell by looking at the machinery that most were very old, made in the early 1900's

This is the real inner city Indian life

Amazing Varanasi

Varanasi is one of the worlds oldest continually inhabited cities. It is regarded as one of Hinduisms holy cities. Traveling through the city on the main city streets it's obvious why it is considered one of the most colorful, chaotic and downright craziest cities in India. But it also has a deeply spiritual side to it. Here the most intimate rituals in life and death occur. Right on the Ganges river, the Ganges is more than just a river to the Hindu Indians, it is like a goddess, it has brought life to the people, and food by bringing rich soil for agriculture to the Ganges river basin. Varanasi is the place where you like to have your children born and where family members are cremated after death.

The group took an evening boat ride along the riverfront and viewed a prayer ceremony that occurs daily on the "ghats" or steps where Varanasi city meets the river bank. Thousands were there taking part in the prayer ceremony and the mystical sounds of bells and drums could be heard from our vantage point out in the river. 

We also witnessed preparations for cremation ceremonies, where many large wood pyramid fires were burning in preparation for receiving the dead loved ones bodies. This occurs here as death always does - around the clock. 

These are magical memories of India I will not forget.

I was very lucky to be in Varanasi on the main day of one of India's biggest festivals - Diwali. Diwali is like a combination of our Christmas and the Fourth of July. Indians clean their homes, paint the outside their houses in bright colors, exchange gifts, and most of all decorate everything with lights to lead Lord Rama home from exile. Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights.

Indian Cooking Class - Curry and more

Today I attended an incredible Indian cooking class, yep ME! Such regular Indian dishes as Marsala Chai Tea, Aloo Palak (spinach potato), Eggplant Curry, Cabbage and Tomato Curry, and Dal (lentil) Fry.

The class was presented by Rajni, an amazing cook who admitted proudly that she learned how to cook from her mother. Rajni was assisted by two other women, cooked right in front of us while she spoke out the ingredients and we copied on note paper provided. 

We were then treated to the cooked product as our lunch, the best meal yet in India. Home cooked meals are always better than the restaurant version. 

Another amazing Indian experience

The People of India - 5

I just can't stop snapping pictures of these intriguing and beautiful Indian people:

Khajuraho - Ancient Indian Temple

20 October 2014

Today our group took a day trip to the ancient temple complex of Khajuraho. Khajuraho was built in the  9th century AD by the Chandela Rajput kings. They are of the Nagara style of Hindu temple architecture. It was nicei to see a true Hindu temple after so many Mughal (Islamic) temples and mosques. That is because many of the Hindu temples were destroyed during the Mughal rule.  Khajuraho survived because it was overgrown in the jungle for 300 years hidden away until "discovered" by an English explorer in the mid 1800's

Only 22 temples are left from the original 85. The temples are in remarkable condition because of them being relatively hidden from vandalism for so many years. They have incredibly detailed carvings of people and geometric objects all over the sides of the temples. Besides depicting people in daily life and in battle, Khajuraho temples are known for their carved characters illustrating erotic sexual poses. Kama Sutra and Tantra poses are prevalent here. It's interesting that displaying sexual art forms were acceptable then, yet today 1000 years later, it is a controversial issue!!

People of India - 4

The People of India - 3

I love this photo. Scan it carefully, it says a lot about poorer rural India.

The People of India -2

I'm trying to get "people shots" in my pictures of India not just scenery, temples and palaces. As with my first people blog the following shots need no words:

Indian Village life - 2

Hi all, 

No sooner did I post the blog on small villages did we visit another one about 3 hours ago. It was amazing, we had so much fun the people just enveloped us. One of the members of our tour group Pete is a former police chief, so our tour guide took him  to meet the local village police chief! The chief was so thrilled to meet Pete and see his California police chief badge. Here are some photos of our village visit:

"The heart and Soul of India is in the small villages" - Gandhi

I had a chance to visit and stay in a few small Indian villages on the trip. In the village of Tordi Sagar, I even had a lunch served by a farmer and his daughter at their village home - a good curry soup and bread. Their life is very simple  with a great deal of hard work simply to survive but they enjoy the joys of being together as a family I'm sure. 

The women play an enormous role in the daily life, not only fixing and serving the meals  and watching the children, but they also serve as the shepard for moving the cows and goats and work in the fields. The children also do not get a free ride, they help around the farm in many ways getting water from the well and working in the fields. You learn to quickly appreciate our different way of life!!

Here are a few scenes I captured while staying in the villages:

A Special Surprise from our CEO

Our tour guide Jai, with G-Adventures Tours known as a CEO - chief experience officer, told us he would give us a special treat while in Agra where the Taj Mahal is located.

Following a great day of touring starting with a sunrise at the Taj Mahal, a walk through of the Agra Fort and the baby Taj with a local guide the group was ready for some beers. Jai took us to a roof top bar outside of the southern gate to the Taj. This is in the area first established as the "city" where the 20,000 workers building the Taj lived. It's now simply a portion of the city of Agra.  We walked up to the roof, turned around and saw the view you see in the pictures below: not a bad place for a few beers and watch the sun go down!!

Jai is an amazing young man. He comes from humble roots, living and working on his parents farm in his early life. His well educated father inspired him to become educated and work hard to achieve. After school he taught young disadvantaged children and ultimately got the job as a tour guide. He has been a G-Adventure's CEO FOR 5 years.

He is wonderful with people, takes care of us well and keeps us laughing all the way. 

He has really made this tour for all of us, particularly this surprise which very few Taj Mahal tourists see!!