No, it really IS 109 degrees F. Sigh. There are ice cream men that roam the neighborhoods, calling “Ice CREAM” and slamming their frigerated cart tops for emphasis. I myself go for the Big T (short for Big Treat) cone, with chocolate and crunchy toffee on top. It’s one of the few things that can [...]
(Rs. short for rupees, the Indian currency; currently at around 43 to the dollar.) 120 Rs. — a dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in Varanasi, including a banana yogurt drink, fruit salad, and tuna fish pasta ” — also for a pedicure, which takes about a half hour and includes scrubbing, foot massage, and paint 15 [...]
Happy Easter! Yesterday, it was Happy Holi! I holed up in our program house due to rumors of terrorising that goes on during this holiday, starting on Friday. Friday evening, a gang of young boys, some with drums and others with flaming sticks, knocked on gates down the road, demanding money. It’s like evil trick-or-treating. [...]
Last weekend our group took a trip to Lucknow, capital of the UP. To help give you understand what that was like, let me supply this analogy: Varanasi is to Lucknow, as St. Peter is to Mankato. Yeeeeee ha!!! Lucknow is a step up from Varanasi, with streets that resemble Delhi’s (wide, lots more cars than [...]
I arrived home from my break to Delhi right on time, eabout 8:00 on Wednesday morning. I had Hindi class as per usual, then in the afternoon we had a group tour of one of the most famous parts of Varanasi, ie, the Ramnagar Fort complex. Our guide, an historian who seemed quite ancient himself, [...]
On Saturday night, Mike and I headed out in search of a club. The Lonely Planet isn’t helpful, with a “it changes from week to week” entry under what’s hot for dancing. So we tried a few different places: one was a bar called Shalom in a southern suburb, the next called DV8 in Connaught [...]
I’m in Delhi this sunny Saturday morning. I arrived right on time on the Shiv-Ganga Express with my friend Mike. We have next Tuesday off, since it’s Shivratri, a holiday celebrating Shiva’s wedding, so it’s a four day weekend for us. Thus, we thought we’d take advantage of it and leave our beautiful Benares for [...]
1. Long Haul: I’m staying in Varanasi for the ____ _____. Due to 1. fourth major stomach ailment: giardia and 2. giardia medicine- induced allergic reaction, I was seriously considering going home early. The more I thought about it, though, the more it made sense to stay the whole time because leaving early wouldn’t give [...]
That’s what I’ve been getting into these past few weeks. I may finally be getting better, after seeing a specialist about my stomach problems. I interviewed the district secretary of the Communist party yesterday as part of my fieldwork research. I went with an assistant of the program to the party office, which is quite far [...]
That’s what I’ve been getting into these past few weeks. I may finally be getting better, after seeing a specialist about my stomach problems. I interviewed the district secretary of the Communist party yesterday as part of my fieldwork research. I went with an assistant of the program to the party office, which is quite far [...]