Llegada triunfal
Trip Start
Jan 14, 2008
1
91
105
Trip End
Dec 19, 2008
Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh,
India
Sunday, November 2, 2008
La ciudad, Benares, indescriptible. Las calles abarrotadas de gente y el trafico pegandose con las vacas. El hotel, basico, en el casco antiguo, en una de las miles de callejuelas llenas de mierda... voy a sacar dinero y el cajero no funciona y, de vuelta, me pierdo y se me hace de noche. Queria morirme!
Al final encuentro el hotel y solo queria llorar y llorar. No lo hice, simplemente me sente en la terraza con mis guias y apuntes y se me ocurrio preguntar a un chico sobre las barcas en el Ganges. Al final me medio acople y el se porto muy bien, consolandome ya que era su segunda vez en India y le fascina.
Al final, nos fuimos de paseo nocturno. De lo mas interesante. Sigo pensando que este es con diferencia el pais mas cerdo que he visto, pero ya voy mentalizandome. Paseamos por las callejuelas (intentando no pisar mierda), por los embarcaderos (Ghats), hemos subido a uno de los edificios a pie del Ghat Manikarnika (el famoso de las cremaciones), donde la gente espera su hora (si, si, es impresionante). Ahi no se pueden hacer fotos por respeto (y tampoco es que se tengan ganas). Un apocalipsis de ciudad, pero que ya, acompaņada y visto de que va el tema, no da tanto miedo. La gente se acerca mucho, pero tambien te das cuenta de que es por mera curiosidad por los blancos y no por hacerte nada. Y, como bienvenida y dado que es la ciudad de las vacas, a la vuelta, nos cruzamos con una vaca y me ha pegado una cornada en las costillas!!!!!
Desde luego, ha sido el mayor choque que he tenido en todo el viaje (y no me refiero solo a la vaca).
Menos mal que al dia siguiente conoci a Nuria y Mario, y mas tarde a Eva, y pasamos un par de dias muy animados viendo la ciudad, montando en barca por el Ganges (que no es precisamente como estar en el Retiro) e intentando quitarnos el shock de encima entre buen humor y regateos.
Tambien vimos la famosa "puja" de la tarde en el Ghat principal (una especie de oracion al rio) y el festival de las cestas, que lleno de color la orilla del rio, con las mujeres y sus vistosos saris y las cestas con comida y velas. Vamos, que hubo festival toda la noche, hasta que salio el sol y pudieron saludarle con alegria!
Pense que quiza, despues de estar casi un aņo entero viajando, estariamos preparadas para esto... creo que nunca se esta lo suficientemente preparada para la India.
By Pato
Here I go alone to India... the airport, the passport control and the driving... the first impression... I just took it with sense of humor.
There are no words for the city of Varanasi. The street are crowded and the traffic is always fighting for the space with a hundred of cows. The hotel was very basic and located in the old town, in one of the small and dirty streets there... I tried to go to an ATM and it is out of order. In my way back, I got lost and it got dark... I just wanted to die!
I finally found the hotel and I just wanted to cry. I didn't and I sat in the rooftop trying to figure out with my guide what to do. I asked a guy about the boats in the Ganges and he comforted me.
We went for a night walk. Very interesting. I still think that this is the dirtiest country I have ever seen and I won't never get used to it. We walked through the narrow streets (trying not to step on cow shit), in the Ghats, we even went up to a building next to Manikarnika Ghat (the one where the cremations) where people just "wait" for their moment and saw the fire at night. So so impressive!!! an apocalypse. But once you're not alone it is not as scary. People get very near you and talk and talk, sometimes trying to sell you anythig but many times it is only because they are curious of us and they want to know. And, as a welcome gift, in the way back to the hotel, I was hit by a cow!!!!!
The biggest shock in the trip...
The following day I met Nuria and Mario (thanks!) and also Eva and we spent a couple of nice days in the city, sightseeing, having a ride in a boat in the Ganges (it is not exactly as in a park) and tring to get used to the country with a good dosis of humor and bargain.
We saw also the afternoon "puja" in the main Ghat (kind of a prayer to the holy river) and the basket festival which made the riverside a real festival of colors with women dressed in bright saris with their baskets full of food and candles. All night long to wait to the sun and greet it!
I always thought that after a year traveling around the world we would be prepared to India... now I think you are never ready for this country!
Comments
India - the land of plenty...
Pato - I know exactly what you mean! But I also know that you'll enjoy it too - all the colors, smells (both good and bad), noice, tastes etc etc. Keep it up and say hi to Ranjit from me :)