Friday, 13 October 2017

Varanasi, Agra, Ranthambore

It’s been a busy time since arriving in Varanasi on the overnight train. We visited Sarnarth where the Buddha first preached and had an evening boat trip down the Ganges where we viewed 2 competing prayer ceremonies. The ceremonies were about 100 metres apart, were conducting the same chants and rituals but were out of synch by a few minutes.



We received some comments about the skinny cow in Delhi. In Varanasi the cows were much fatter and much more common on the streets. We were told that they like to stand in the middle of the road as passing traffic keeps the flies off them.


After a night in a hotel we were up before the crack of dawn for a sunrise boat ride. We didn’t actually see the sun, due the thick smog but it was pleasant and cool. After breakfast it was off to the airport for a flight to Agra. Joy went on a tour of the Red Fort while Adrian stayed at the Hotel to sleep off a dose of Varee Belly. In the morning it was a tour of the Taj Mahal and then an 8-hour road trip to Ranthambore. Along the way Joy became ill: so, it has been a diet of boiled rice and dahl for the both of us until today.


This morning we went on the first of two-jungle safari’s at the Ranthambore Tiger Park. Tiger sightings are not guaranteed but we were lucky enough to see a pair of them doing what comes naturally. We also saw deer and antelope and some pretty specky scenery.

   


   

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