A Sunrise Boat Ride

Since today is Michelle’s last day, we went to the ghats and got a boat ride for the morning. Since we left at 4:50am or so, we managed to see the sun rise on the river, which was pretty awesome (even though it was cloudy/hazy, as per usual). I also saw white people in the largest numbers since being in O’Hare (Chicago’s airport). Regardless, the ride was beautiful, so I took some pictures. Here they are:

 This is a very very very early in the day view of Varanasi.

 This was one of our three guides (we had a big motorboat because the tides are much stronger during monsoons).

 There are some cool fatigue cracks on this temple...

We also visited Manikarnika Ghat (aka the burning ghat). This place burns literally 24/7, as Varanasi is the place where people want to die and be cremated (and then, of course, put into the Ganga). Manikarnika is one of two burning ghats in the city, and is the more popular of the two (as I understand). As a tourist, it was a very strange experience, as I felt like I was participating in a strange form of exoticism combined with death. In terms of comparisons, it was like attending funerals for people who you did not know. It was quite interesting, but altogether very intense. 

 Us on the way to the burning ghat. You really should not and cannot take pictures once you are there.