Madonna! and other musings

No pics today, just some random thoughts...

I love Italian. We went out for pizza tonight, again! Cecilia and I decided that we eat more pizza here than we do at home. In fact, I feel like my whole diet has been carbo-loading since I got to the ashram. At meals they often serve rice, potatoes, and bread... all at once. I feel like I'm gonna wake up one morning like the Goodyear blimp. So minus a few Indians at dinner, I was the only non-Italian speaker at the table. I could follow, somewhat, the conversation, but it didn't matter because it's just such a beautiful language. I love how they say "Madonna!" sort of like we say, "My God!"

I've decided that a scarf is the best accessory to have in Varanasi, key for covering your mouth when you take a rickshaw anywhere. The dust and pollution here are awful. I have a case of what I'm calling "Varanasi lung" right now, basically just coughing and congestion, with occasional burning eyes thrown in for good measure. Are they sure that Mexico City is the most polluted place on the planet? Have they been to Varanasi?

The other thing I love here is the lack of regulation. For example, the other day I was eating an Indian snack, a bar made mostly of sesame. I know it also had some sugar and cardamom in it, but after that I can't be sure. The last ingredient listed was "etc." Really, et cetera? What does that mean? A bunch of fake stuff that if we told you, you wouldn't want to eat this? At least in the U.S. they tell what kind of fake stuff is in it, all those things that you can't pronounce.

And on that note, it's off to bed. Madonna!

Going green

Tomorrow at sundown a puja, or offering, will begin to the Ganges. Women will come and pray for the health and wealth of their family. They will offer candles and flowers and, unfortunately, plastic. The Ganges pretty much serves as a dumping ground here. If you Google it, you will find some shocking statistics on just how polluted it is, particularly in Varanasi. I will be heading to Rishikesh in a few weeks, closer to the source, and I guess it is much cleaner up there.

About a month ago the staff and children from the ashram held a rally in Varanasi to raise awareness and encourage people not to pollute the river. They made signs with messages like this:


Today we posted these signs along the riverfront, where the women will see them as they pass by on their way to do their puja. It seems like a Herculean task to clean up the Ganges, particularly when anything and everything is dumped into it, but you have to start somewhere!


Random cutie pie shot. This is Bharat. I know you're not supposed to have favorites among children, but this kid is my favorite. He's always smiling, beaming really, just a happy-go-lucky kid. :)