Saying goodbyes has not been fun, especially when I don’t know if I will EVER see these people that made such an impact on my life again. That is sad too think about. However, I am so thankful to have met wonderful people that make saying goodbye so hard. I will also miss the city of Coimbatore. The door man that greets me with a cheerful, “Good morning madam” each morning when I get the paper, walking around racecourse seeing all the people, and yoga on the roof are just a few of the little things I will miss. Enough of the sad stuff. Thanks to the travel packet we received yesterday, I will share about our travel to the north.
Tomorrow morning we leave for Calcutta
In Calcutta we will visit-
Sari Bari:
Sari blanket making NGO whose employees are women who were all working in the sex trade.
Ramakrishna Mandir and Museum:
A famous temple
Kali Temple:
Another Temple.
St Paul’s Cathedral:
It was the first Anglican cathedral in India and is today the seat of the Church of North India bishop of Kolkata.
Then a LONG train to Varanasi (11:45 AM – 2:35 AM)
Is famous for the “ghats,” or stairs down to the river Ganges, where devotees go to bathe, believing that such bathing removes sins and impurities. Many Hindus believe that if one dies in Varanasi and is immersed in the Ganges at Varanasi one will immediately obtain Moksha, or liberation.
The Ghats:
A small number of ghats are “burning ghats” where dead bodies are cremated, typically on pyres made out of sandalwood (so as to cover the smell of burning flesh). Once the bodies have been completely burned the bones and ashes are immersed in the Ganges. A special breed of snapping turtles were bread to eat the flesh that doesn’t burn completely.
Sarnath:
Sarnath is the site of Gautama Buddha’s first sermon after he received enlightenment.
Varanasi Walks:
A tour through the twisting back alleys of old Varanasi and a sunset boat tour of the Ganges .
Open Hand Café:
Manufactures, exports and retails fairly traded high quality Indian-made textiles, garments, bags and handicrafts,
Then a train from 12am - 11:45am to Jaipur
Amber and Jaigarh Fort:
To get to the temple we are riding an ELEPHANT! Yes, another check on my India bucket list!
Bus to Agra!
Fatehpur Sikri:
Ancient abandoned capital of the Moghul Empire.
Agra Fort:
It is the place where Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his son.
The Taj Mahal:
The Taj was started in 1632 and completed in 1648, built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. We are going on a sunrise visit!
Train to Delhi!
Red Fort: Also built by Shah Jahan.
Within this packed schedule we will have some free time.
Then, on the 15th I head home. Bittersweet.
Don’t know how much internet I will have the next two weeks. I will try to update you when I can.
Bye for now :)
This is a picture from the candlelight ceremony we had Wednesday night. My friends Christy and Jenifer.
Tomorrow morning we leave for Calcutta
In Calcutta we will visit-
Sari Bari:
Sari blanket making NGO whose employees are women who were all working in the sex trade.
Ramakrishna Mandir and Museum:
A famous temple
Kali Temple:
Another Temple.
St Paul’s Cathedral:
It was the first Anglican cathedral in India and is today the seat of the Church of North India bishop of Kolkata.
Then a LONG train to Varanasi (11:45 AM – 2:35 AM)
Is famous for the “ghats,” or stairs down to the river Ganges, where devotees go to bathe, believing that such bathing removes sins and impurities. Many Hindus believe that if one dies in Varanasi and is immersed in the Ganges at Varanasi one will immediately obtain Moksha, or liberation.
The Ghats:
A small number of ghats are “burning ghats” where dead bodies are cremated, typically on pyres made out of sandalwood (so as to cover the smell of burning flesh). Once the bodies have been completely burned the bones and ashes are immersed in the Ganges. A special breed of snapping turtles were bread to eat the flesh that doesn’t burn completely.
Sarnath:
Sarnath is the site of Gautama Buddha’s first sermon after he received enlightenment.
Varanasi Walks:
A tour through the twisting back alleys of old Varanasi and a sunset boat tour of the Ganges .
Open Hand Café:
Manufactures, exports and retails fairly traded high quality Indian-made textiles, garments, bags and handicrafts,
Then a train from 12am - 11:45am to Jaipur
Amber and Jaigarh Fort:
To get to the temple we are riding an ELEPHANT! Yes, another check on my India bucket list!
Bus to Agra!
Fatehpur Sikri:
Ancient abandoned capital of the Moghul Empire.
Agra Fort:
It is the place where Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his son.
The Taj Mahal:
The Taj was started in 1632 and completed in 1648, built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. We are going on a sunrise visit!
Train to Delhi!
Red Fort: Also built by Shah Jahan.
Within this packed schedule we will have some free time.
Then, on the 15th I head home. Bittersweet.
Don’t know how much internet I will have the next two weeks. I will try to update you when I can.
Bye for now :)
This is a picture from the candlelight ceremony we had Wednesday night. My friends Christy and Jenifer.
You look amazing! Your hair is soooo long. Thanks for the schedule...it looks packed full. We are so excited for when you get home. Love ya girl!
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