Incredible India #2 | Varanasi: The City of Mystical Alleys

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VARANASI - Varanasi

It is my favorite city of the four.

I love the charm of the alleyways, the vibrancy of Holi, the sacredness of the Ganges, and the life by the river.

Content: Varanasi is the oldest city in India, now over 4,000 years old.

It is the city where the Buddha gave his first sermon to the five ascetics.

This is considered the first sermon after enlightenment at Isipatana Deer Park, or Sarnath in the present day.

How's that? You look like a serious person. Hehe.

We haven't reached Sarnath yet. Let's talk about Varanasi, which is located on the banks of the Ganges and is a super modern alleyway.

The summary of this city that was previously written is

"Varanasi, the city of cute little alleys and dung"

And it is impossible to distinguish whether it belongs to a cow, a buffalo, a dog, a monkey, a goat, or a human.

The dust is so thick, the guests are so excited, I don't know what they're on, it's so alert.

They like to greet in Japanese. If you are greeted with "Kimuchi", don't be surprised.

Respond in loud Japanese, they will love it.

The city of alleys of wonders, everything is for sale in a shop that shouldn't exist.

The river is so beautiful, I can hardly believe my eyes. Everything is possible here, Varanasi, Incredible India."

It really is like that in every way.

Let's dive into the details.

On the way, while riding the second-class train, because the seats were a bit better and not as crowded as the local class, I met some Indians who seemed to be of a higher caste.

With their warm hospitality, polite speech, and good manners, I saw a different side of the Indian people.

If you want to see the real, raw India, try the local trains. It's guaranteed to be a wild ride!

Playing Candy Crush with this kid on the train

The father is handsome and the mother is beautiful, lying on the bed above.

*First class will be a double-decker sleeping car.

The second class is a three-tiered sleeping car with air conditioning in both classes and foldable beds.

This requires some climbing skills.

You can probably tell from the state of things whether I'm tired or not, haha.

No matter how hot it is here, we always drink hot tea.

I don't know if there's no ice or what...

Or it could be that the habit of drinking hot tea was influenced by the British occupation.

It's pretty delicious too.

The pink basin is a drinking tap. People wash their faces and eyes with it. The water is very cloudy, but people still fill bottles with it to drink and eat.

It takes about half an hour to get to the city of Varanasi by auto.

The road is still rough, with potholes and bumps that make you feel like you're being shaken like a koala in a washing machine.

Plus, it's coated with cocoa powder dust, making it perfect...

Brother Khaek played some upbeat Indian music, which really got the party going and fit the atmosphere perfectly.

I don't recommend wearing earpods to listen to international music or Thai music alone in this situation.

This is how you have to listen to Indian music! It's the best way to experience it!

I really want to insert a video clip in IG for you to see.

I'll show you when I find a way.

How cool is the song, haha we booked a hotel called Shiva guest house

Located right next to the Ghat (riverfront steps) on the banks of the Ganges River.

Conveniently walk down the Ganges River

But because the way was too steep and it was already late when we arrived.

I had to ask a young Indian guide to help me get there. I really couldn't find my way.

(Actually, he's not really a guide, I just hired him to take me around, Google map doesn't work, I didn't turn on the internet.)

Little Indian Guide, "Mayulr" the Boy

I like to study English and computer.

She said she will be free until Wednesday.

We thought it was a Hindu religious holiday.

In conclusion, it is not Wednesday! It is Wednesday - -

The younger sibling taught me to read it as "Wed-nes-day," not "Wens-day."

What we said was wrong, don't argue. She studied English and then raised her eyebrows in surprise.

..She's so confident that I'm confused myself. Haha.

*It's not just Nong Mayulr. Many people here read it like that too.

Mayul said that the auto driver tricked us by saying that he could only drop us off at the entrance and then made us walk the rest of the way.

It can actually come in here, but it doesn't come. A lot of cockles.

Just a short walk, what is it? This will be a kilometer already.

On the way, there was a funeral procession passing by the Ganges River, which was crowded next to it.

The body was not put in a coffin, but wrapped in cloth and placed on a stretcher ready for cremation… a new experience.

I feel like everything is so out of date now.

What era are we in now?

The guests were in a frenzy, dancing like crazy. I don't know what they were on, but it was a little scary, haha.

I think it's because of the Holi festival, that's why it's so chaotic.

As you can see from the picture above, it was very crowded.

They will all be eager to go out and buy new things for their homes.

The streets were packed with people, making it almost impossible to move.

It's faster to walk than to take any kind of vehicle.

Another thing that likes to occupy the road, but no one can do anything about it, is cows.

Here, the cows are in charge. They can do whatever they want: sit, lie down, walk, poop, pee.

Almost all human rights are as independent as the cows here.

Goats too, monkeys too.

The dog part has become a minority.

Goats strolling through the alleys

And then we reached the alley we had to walk down. It was a small, winding alleyway, like Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.

If I had to walk out again alone, I would definitely get lost. >.<

As we were about to reach the accommodation, she turned right into a dark alley. We were taken aback... This wasn't the way.

At this moment, I don't really want to trust anyone. I'm suspicious of everyone.

It's good that I have friends with me, otherwise I wouldn't have dared to walk in. Seriously.

Finally found Shiva guest house. Phew, what a relief.

In the morning, when there's a bit of light, it's not really scary.

Last night I was a bit paranoid. I met some crazy guests who were all over the place, which made me panic too. Haha.

What is this?

It's a clothes drying rack, drilled like this on every floor.

Looking straight at the floor, straight at the ceiling like this, I've never seen it before.

And it pierces through to the roof terrace. I wonder how they do it when it rains. I forgot to ask.

I think this is a good place.

It's near the Kat. Just a short walk and you'll reach the Ganges River.

All foreigners stayed there and liked to sit and play on the sofa in front of the room.

All foreigners are very friendly when they are in India.

Because we are in a similar situation, haha.

You'll definitely make new friends, just keep talking and open your mind a little.

Exchange ideas, culture, feelings, practice language and express yourself with confidence. : )

*My favorite thing about this place is the Ganges River in the morning.

Don't forget to wake up and watch at six in the morning. Just seeing the sunrise is beautiful.

The more you sail to see the full beauty of the river and houses, the more you will be filled with joy.

(Boat trip 100 rupees per person = 50 baht, more than worth it)

The first image I saw made my heart swell with pride.

Too beautiful. So beautiful that it stopped me in my tracks for a moment.

For the first time in my life, I had the thought.. Can cameras capture images as well as the human eye?!

I can't believe my eyes. This is so beautiful.

• Be on time, go in the morning, no later than 6:30, or the mood will change immediately.

That's why some people went and said it wasn't that beautiful.

It depends on whether we go at the right time or not. Because each place, don't just go to the place.

But you have to go to the heart of that place. Go to really experience the value of that place.

Every place has its own time, a time that makes it the most beautiful and valuable.

…

Life by the riverbank

In an ancient city that is over 4,000 years old.

Every morning, everyone wakes up and bathes, washes their face, and brushes their teeth at this river.

(He might have peed or pooped too, I don't know.)

During this time, people will come to scrub their bodies and wash off the Holi colors.

It's difficult to wash off and stays on for many days.

He said it signifies a long-lasting friendship.

The Ganges River is known by many names. Here, it is called the Ganga River (Kanga, Ganga).

In other areas, it may be called differently.

Let's set sail.

Actually, taking photos is prohibited, but the kind uncle told me to go ahead and take them.

(Or maybe not, I really can't hear it)

For the poor, they will buy as much firewood as they can afford. When the body is not completely burned, they will just let it float away in the water.

*While sailing, I saw a corpse floating. They will wrap it in cloth. The male corpse will be wrapped in white cloth.

What color or pattern fabric will the women be?

Floating not too far from the people who are playing in the water.

It seems to be normal because Hindus believe that

Death is a release from suffering.

He said that the fire here has never been extinguished, at least not for the past 4,000 years.

Does this mean that cremations are happening all the time?

*The fire they are burning is right next to the person in the pink shirt on the right.

Enjoying it!

My uncle taught me how to row a boat. : )

Pray to the goddess of the Ganges River

The old man is performing some kind of ceremony.

We had a lot of fun. The more we saw the camera, the more we liked it.

Crossing over to the other side, you'll find aunties building sandcastles.

They are symbols of the lingam and yoni, which are used to worship Lord Shiva.

Be careful from here on out.

They came to offer to sell something or to give a massage or something. Just say no! Otherwise, it will be a long time!

"You happy, I happy, you pay, happy together" for sure, my dear.

I recommend taking a horse ride around this side.

Don't forget to agree on a price before you buy anything.

Don't worry, everything will be fine. : )

It's late, let's go ashore.

This uncle tried to explain various things to us in Hindi throughout the boat trip.

"I don't understand what you're saying, uncle. Haha!"

It takes a lot of effort to understand each other.

It wasn't until later that I realized that it was forbidden to take pictures of the place where the bodies were being cremated.

After taking a lot of photos, I understood that my uncle was saying, "Take photos, take photos, they're beautiful!"

Suddenly, another boat with English-speaking people shouted, "No photos!"

Oh really? Then what did this uncle just say? Haha

At least thanks to the awkward conversation, I got some nice pictures.

The uncle then tried to teach us how to row the boat, so we tipped him 200 rupees.

If you are satisfied with the service, please remember to tip them.

And then they returned to shore after sailing for an hour.

The Indian guests who were playing in the water on the shore.

Today is Pre-Holi Day.

This person wasn't hit on the head with anything. They were playing Holi, and Holi colors take a week to wash off.

This is his cute pose. I told you this city is cute. See? Haha.

The barber shop will be cool out door like this.

Bird feeder

At first, she scolded us for stepping on the bird food.

As soon as I turned the camera around,

Smile sweetly right away. Hehe.

Let's talk a little bit about the Holi festival.

It falls at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, when the plants start to bloom and bear fruit. Hindus take this opportunity to celebrate.

Splashing colored powder on each other, the colors symbolize the vibrant spirit and life, and the communication of friendship like the color that is difficult to wash off.

For those who have any grievances, let us use this opportunity to reconcile and become friends again.

It's a festival filled with love, really.

Which has changed somewhat now, just like the Songkran festival in Thailand.

On the night before Holi, Hindus gather to light bonfires in various locations.

Some places will burn the effigy of the demon Holika to symbolize the burning of evil things to ashes.

And remember that righteousness always prevails over unrighteousness.

At first, I didn't get it. I was so scared, I'm telling you straight. The night before Halloween, it was like a war was breaking out across the country.

It's like everyone is running from an explosion and trying to survive.

Some people lit firecrackers and threw them into the middle of the road. Then, as they walked, they came across another bonfire. What's going on here?

My friend and I were wondering if it would catch anyone sitting on the rubber band!

Which is not..

Pure imagination

It's really scary, though, because when they get drunk, the whole town goes crazy. Everyone drinks until they're practically unconscious.

We were riding a rickshaw when suddenly someone walked up and slapped the rickshaw driver in the face.

If you come during the festival, you have to be very careful. It's best not to leave your accommodation at night.

It's absolutely chaotic, I tell you.

Ganga Aarti, the Ganges River worship ceremony

Aarti is a fire-based worship ritual. It is believed among Hindus that the worship of all deities is incomplete without the worship of fire.

And the worship of fire will bring happiness to those who worship it.

The Ganga Aarti is a fire-based worship ceremony dedicated to the goddess Ganga. The ceremony begins at around 6:30 PM every day.

Everyone will gather around the shrine to admire its beauty and pray together.

It is a request for blessings and blessings from the Mother of the River.

The officiant must prepare offerings such as arati lamps, lotus flowers, and incense.

Perform the ceremony by rotating clockwise.

Throughout the ceremony, there will be people beating gongs and blowing trumpets to create a mystical atmosphere.

Looking into the eyes of those who came to surround, it was filled with faith and belief.

We're in it too.

I'm so happy : ) People here don't smoke much. I haven't seen anyone smoke since I arrived.

Both men and women chewed betel nut.

The floor and walls were stained red with betel nut juice.

If you see someone walking and chewing betel nut in front of you, please be careful.

Walking around aimlessly, be careful not to get spat on with betel nut juice.

Antique shop

Street vendors decorate in preparation for the Holi festival.

Shops in the alleys and alleys here

As explained in the Kolkata thread

There is only one way in and out, which is in front.

As I mentioned, this city is a magical alleyway. Everything is for sale in shops that shouldn't exist.

Tell me what you want. Snacks, ice, coke, scissors, stickers, rubber gloves, greeting cards.

Done!

I want to buy scissors, but I don't think they have any. I just asked because the shop looks very shabby. In front of the shop, there are stickers, snacks, a water dispenser, and other things that don't seem to go together.

He said he had some, then went to get them from behind the shop. They were in good condition and very cheap, only five to ten baht each.

Do you have Scotch tape? : Yes -- I'll go get it from the back.

Gauze bandage? Yes, we have some -- I'll go get it from the back.

Hey! Is there a Doraemon in the back room? Seriously... I heard it's just a small square block.

So, just because something isn't displayed in the storefront doesn't mean they don't have it in the back. Don't hesitate to ask!

I found a barber shop for the first time.

Usually you see them cut in the open air.

Let's move on to food.

She's frying some snacks, staring fiercely at the camera.

Sip tea from a clay cup

After you finish eating, throw the cup on the side of the road.

Making authentic roti requires this method.

How about some Indian dinner?

This recommends "Ganga Fuji Restaurant" and especially "Spicy bite" which is delicious.

They also have Japanese and Korean food, and surprisingly, the owner is a great cook! Westerners love to eat at this restaurant.

This is from Ganga Fuji Restaurant.

Chicken Tandoori

This is a contestant from Spicy bite | Chicken burter.

This round, the winner is Spicy bite's Chicken burter : ) "Sarnath" or Isipatana Deer Park

Come and join us in our pilgrimage.

Today, I took an auto rickshaw from the city of Varanasi to Sarnath.

Entrance fee 50 baht

Because the Thai people have restored this place.

So he reduced the entrance fee for Thai people.

The Buddha delivered his first sermon to the five ascetics at the "Dhammacakka Stupa" here.

This is the first sermon after enlightenment.

Is this where Buddhism was first spread?

Feeling very much in the moment, chanting prayers, walking meditation, and sitting meditation

It's hot, but I'm feeling calm. : )

I'll write more about "Bodh Gaya" later when I have time ;))

Heading to another city...

As I was waiting for the train, something cute and sneaky crossed my path. : )

Say hi :))

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