Bonne fete Leah!

Namaste! Salaam!

It's Leah's birthday today. I wonder if we can get birthday cake for her somewhere. She wanted one cool beer and coffee today. SO far she has only had her french pressed coffee.

We woke up early today to see the sunrise. We arrived at the river and took a boat. before we got on the boat, 2 little boys were harassing us to buy these petal filled bowls with a candle. I am quite determined to get these people out of my way out of my way, but Leah, little softie, decided to buy 3. One for each. When we were on the boat we tried to light the matches but the wind wouldn't let us. Finally the man that was rowing the boat lighted them. One bowl totally flipped over in the water. However I think we have some good pictures. The man didn't explain much. We saw lots of tourists in other boats. Some other boats were merchants trying to sell things to us. We saw a few fish or turtle ... or corpses jump out of the water. Too fast for us to see. In the morning I was happy to see more women in the river bathing. All were in saris. Though most are men. They fish, shave, bathe, meditate pray, do laundry, swim and play in this water. Supposedly, raw sewers flow in the Ganga, I didn't want to touch the water. But Leah and Filip did and said it was cleaner than they would have thought and warm.

When we left the Ganga, donkeys were getting in my way and so I had to look up and not at my feet, trying to avoid stepping in dung. Dung is everywhere near the Ganga. Vanessa and I consider dung only digested grass, but I saw today a cow chewing on a garbage bag and pigs laying (like it was a spa) in garbage juice. Oh and a chicken eating styrofoam!! BAH HA! gotta love it.

After a too short nap, we toured 3 hindu temples; the monkey temple, one that is lucky for married couples and one made of marble that had moving status of their Devas.

We then went to a silk merchant, in the muslim neighbourhood. He served us chai (yummy) and showed us many many scarves, bed covers and saris. I bought 2. Unfortuntaly we later found out that his prices were way too high. Filip and I bought one for Leah. :D

As we were walking later to find a specific store for Filip (cosmetic store actually, to buy for his mama) we ran into a man that invited us into his silk shop. The prices for the saris were HALF of what was offered by the other man. And oh boy! I bought quite a bit... Oops! One Sari, one bed cover (originally I thought I was buying for mom and dad, but the bed cover I found is too beautiful and I will keep it for myself when i buy a house :P ) and another scarf.
We later found the store Filip wanted to buy at and then a cafe where we stopped for lunch.

Now were are resting.

To add a few things I missed yesterday about the cremation ceremony. After the body is burnt, they take the hip bone from a woman or the sternum from a man (because they are considered the strongest in the body) and are put in the river for the fish and turtle to eat. They then later celebrate the person's life.

The 6th person that doesn't get burnt is a holy man to the Hindus (I forget what they call them).

It's already getting dark and not yet 7pm. And it rained a bit today, but it was still super hot, everytime we arrive at the hotel, we shower.

xoxox
Ly