You know you are in India when...

Hello friends!

You know you are in India when the employees MIGHT wash their hands before returning to work.

It has been far too long since I have posted last, and much continues to happen. I have tried to post, but alas India has decided that now is the time for an update.

My companions and I arrived in Delhi, spending an evening with Kashif's cousins. The next day we flew to Lucknow, staying in a modest palace for a few days. After checking out some Muslim ruins, dodging and weaving through traffic, and eating until we almost burst, we travelled to Varanasi.

Varanasi was a city far beyond my imagination in both likes and dislikes. It had that certain quality of air that you can find in India; a mixture of dust, diesel fumes, refuse, and burning leaves, but sometimes it is bad. There are many things to do, but some of the best we didn't plan and weren't in any book you can find. One such day involved a jaunt to a school where we witnessed a Puja ritual for some children before a big set of exams. We then listened to the headmaster speak on the importance of friendship: how friends are your best teachers, and how we should all work to aid those around us, and finally how we need to close our books when we get stressed out, go outside and take some deep breaths. Such divine wisdom from the principle of a huge school!

After Varanasi, we headed to Sarnath, the site of the Buddha's first sermon. This town was a welcomed respite from the chaos of Varanasi. We took in many beautiful gardens, and had many opportunities to meditate at Buddhist temples from around the world. This was my first exposure to Buddhist monks in India, and they were very wonderful, friendly and interested in many things about me. After staying at a temple here, we have opted to continue looking for Dharmshalas (temple guesthouses) for stay in on our trip.

From Sarnath we traveled back to Varanasi to take a train to Gaya, and from there to Bodhgaya. While we did spend one period of about 9 hours in Gaya, it was agreed that was more than enough time for a city of less charm than Varanasi. From there we took an autorickshaw to Bodhgaya.

And here we are in Bodhgaya, the place where the Sakyamuni Gotama sat under a tree, and became the first Buddhist. This was abbreviated not out of disrespect, but because it happened well over 2500 years ago, and I am not sure exactly how it went down. For some history you should contact Michael Owens!

So that is a bit of the where and how of my trip so far, but I suppose the what and why may be more interesting, so I hope to get that out tomorrow before beginning my Vipassana retreat tomorrow.

So here is the abbreviated list according to my recollection.
You know you are in India when...
-your car is on fire, so you bend over and throw some dirt on it
-you drive on the left side of the road
-or the middle of the road
-or the right side of the road
-actually you just drive in the direction that there isn't another car.
-roads lanes aren't marked; see above.
-pedestrians don't have the right-of-way, only cows
-cows and goats are natures garbage men
-everything is negotiable, with and without your consent
-anything is possible, not everything can be done, unless you know a guy.
-collusion and price fixing beat out capitalism

Well, that is the short list, but I will be sure to add on as I learn. I hope you all smile alot, laugh at least a little, and share yourself with the world!