There have been extensive news around the mob attacks on women in India in the past several years. News that most Indians are aware of, they claim the international news outlets are blowing ithese stories out of proportion, and would prefer not to focus on it. I had a fair amount of these type of exchanges; Don’t mind the (crippling) poverty, look at this (truly) remarkable palace instead. One could argue that as a guest in their country I could find less provocative topics to discuss, but this is why I travel to reframe my perspective and get a better understanding of the world we live in. In fairness America gets our fair share of “What’s that about?” abroad I am challenged to navigate.

India assaults all your senses, noise, beauty, smells, tastes, heat, that keeps your mind reeling trying to organize how does this fit into my delicate western sensibilities. It doesn’t, instead this country demands you be present , moment to moment, which is what I imagined, and why I have always wanted to go.

India is an amazing destination. It is endlessly engaging. It is “the cradle of civilization” , a complicated culture where I found myself wondering how did it come to this. But the best travel leaves me wanting more, and in this case I certainly do. I cannot wait to go back to explore those dark corners, and spiritual heights of India.

Varanasi was the last part of my visit and will be the first part of my next visit. It is a city that lives on the banks of the Ganges. The birthplace where Buddha first spoke, and started Budihism, it is a point of pilgrimage for Hinduism. Hindus believe that dying here and getting cremated along the banks of the "holy" Ganges river allows one to break the cycle of rebirth and attain salvation. It is the Mecca of Asia. Varanasi is the first place that I glimpse understanding India’s culture. With brevity in mind I am posting some of my photos while thinking this place deserves it’s own blog.

Snake worshipers celebrate the daily solstice.