Varanasi Alive!! (or dead)

Well, we had a rager of a morning... caught a boat shoreside before sunrise, and watched the action on the banks of the Ganges as the sun rose to embrace the people. We were able to photo document the open crematoria (above) from the safety of the boat (essentially impossible to get away with on shore); it is not as active in the early morning as it is during the day, when there are at least 6 fires alight, and hundreds of family members crowded around watching. Morning seems to be prime time for the holy bath in the Ganges (above). It is so interesting to watch a guy strip down, lather himself head to toe in soap suds, and then get into septic water to 'wash' it off! They submerge themselves 3 times in a ritual, say a prayer, then sometimes even drink the water. Personally, I've had two showers already today to try to keep the India off me... and bought a whole new set of clean clothes! The transformation is now complete - I'm officially in travel mode, dressed like the grunge travelers we see around... the differences being that a) I am washing far too often to risk growing dreadlocks, and b) I am not stoned out of my tree!!