https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb9IVxjdlCs This song will always be tied to Banaras! I am back in the states..as we say on the road... As I am waiting here in NY for sun to rise and noon to comel...I shall pass time by writing. I tried to sleep...fail. I tried lying on the ground, chairs, on the pillow I took from the plane (I paid for the ticket so its mine anyway)..yet no luck falling asleep at the airport. Its raining outside JFK.. Normally rain makes me sleepy but I am wide awake! It is the time change I bet. i slept like a baby on the plane which would have been India's night time. So with keeping my phone's battery life in mind, here are pointers from my trip. 1) women can travel alone in India 2) one must be wise and street smart 3) do not go with a closed mind 4) blend in like a local no matter where you are in the world 5) follow your instincts and do not worry about being rude if that keeps you safe 6) Eventhough Gandhiji said "satya ahimsa chori na karvi" ...dont lie, be violent, or steal, for your safety, especially as a female, make up stories. I call them cover ups for when people you doubt try to inquire about you. You should never tell them you are a solo female traveller. i always had cover ups, but they were for my own safety such as saying my friends are waiting for me etc... 7) bargain but be respectful that the seller or auto rikshaw driver needs to make a living through your business too..there is a fine line. I consider myself bargaining expert and can get away with my fluent Hindi or Gujarati, local outfits...but I try to be mindful that the other person needs to make a profit too...it will often be mere couple rupees. 8) get to know locals but remember not to give out too much info especially to people you cannot trust 9) i generally trusted women more but that is common sense as I am a female myself 10) shuttlenor shared rikshaws will save you money...they are my preferred method of commuting to places besides on foot..for instance I. Went to Sarnath from Banaras/Varanasi for 30Rs through shared rikshaws and changing at one place..private rikshaw or cab would have cost tons more. I dont like doing touristy things but if you fear your safety, then go im a safer cab or private rikshaw. I dont fear my safety when in shared rikshaws as I have travelled ton of times in them in many cities and towns in India. Again, dont give out too much info and act like you know where you are going. Guard your brlongings too. I try to travel with less...for me, less is more anyway. People in my experience have always been nice to me and made room for me. For instance, men will go sit up front with the driver when there are more women in the back. And if someone does not respect you, demand respect. I speak up and give people lectures if they try to rip me off when negotiating a price for a rikshaw ride. I dont remember what number I am on, but overall, just have fun and be smart. Solo travel will change you in ways that you will not even realize...flexibility, being your own support, gps, guide, safety net...endurance, new perspectives in life, greater acceptance, how to be simple and value more through less, remind you life is a journey and our day to day lives can be seen through different lens if we wish to do so....thats it for now. By the way, I love Emirates! Best entertainment system in the sky!! So grateful for a safe and incredibly beautiful journey!! Thank you God! P.s.I will probably upload a photo album when I have time and battery life. Life is about to get super busy again so we will see...

the last photo is the back of one of my boarding passes...Sharukh Khan travelling with me in spirit!

Most magical day

1. Ganga maiya ni aarti and darshan (praying to Ganga river) 2. Bathing my hands and feet in Ganga nadi. 3. Crossing to the other side of the river in a boat. 4. Skipping down the ghat steps. 5. Connecting with locals and travellars. 6. Amazing alloo ka paratha for breakfast. 8.amazing lassi.. Overall, feeling so blessed and thankful for these moments that make my life so eternally beautiful. Sitting during the aarti at Deshwamedh ghat, I was not a traveller. Instead, I was God's child lost with eyes locked onto Ganga maiya and mesmerized by the surroundings. I had the most beautiful and magical moments of my life and I am ever grateful to God. I am going to try to wake up at 5am to catch the sunrise eastward on Ganga nadi and cruise across the ghats for the last time before flying back to Gujarat. Here, my identity is that I am from Gujarat and I speak fluent Hindi with everyone. I am not a foreigner and I dont bring up USA at all. Except for the hostel staff who know. I am a Hindustani born on Indian soil and no matter where I travel in the world, India will always be the closest to my heart. Yet I ama global citizen. I found myself speaking Spanish to little kids at my hostel in Kerala who were from Chile or Peru. I loved visiting Synagogue in fort kochi and Jainand Budhhist temples in Sarnath near Banaras. i had visited mosque in Ahmedabad long ago...and Kasi Vishwanath mandir in Kashi or Banaras. All religions are equal and the messege is humanity and goodness. Sarva dharma sarkha gannva (treat all religions as equal).

Sarnath

Today, I visited/took a day trip to Sarnath. It is where Buddha bhagvan fist gave his sermons to his 5 disciples originally. It is such a beautiful place and well preserved after excavations. I loved the archeological place where there are many monastaries and original temples. I sat under a tree and took couple mini naps. It was so serene and peaceful. I walked around a ton and had 2 rounds of chana chor garam!! Yumm.. Had a great time overall and was impressed. The museum was well kept. What bothered me is the habit of spitting. I have noticed in UP..well Banaras and surrounding areas..people(men) spit every 5sec literally. It is so gross and disrespectful to mother Earth and fellow people. Even in the buddhist temple or statuegrounds..the security guard kept spitting. And he had the guts to tell me not to sit on the edge of the walkway. I was tired and was not violating any rules. He was!! I felt like going off on him giving him a lecture...but then I was like this is a sacred area of buddhism so peace shall br attained....boy was I mad. But also cooled down fast. i dont stay mad for long. It feels better to be chilled. Then I kept walking and walked to this Jain temple!! Then Buddhist temple and the tre under which Sidharth Gautam..aka Buddha...gave his 1st sermon!! Then I was so tired by then. So I took shuttle rikshaw to get back. Here is the thing! You could be a typical tourist and spend over 100rs on private rikshaw or more on cab..or you could take a shared rikshaw to different junctions or towns/areas and keep connecting to other shuttles until you make it to your destination!...which is what I did. Only 30rs to get from my hostel to sarnath! And 35 to get back! Score!! i love discovering new routes!! I got to meet and know some local as well as travelling folks today!:) now, I have officially prayed in Hindu temples (thats a given lol), Jewish synagogue, Buddhist temple, Christian church/Catholic cathedrals, Jain temple, and Muslim mosque. I learned to say sarva dharma prayer at Manav Sadhna...and now I feel I have lived it. I feel so happy and content. I have all I wanted...that is the feeling. Plus I shifted from a hostel far from the river to one on the river banks...or close enough! I liked the other hostel a lot but the location made me shift as I want to be able to be on the ghats for sunrise and see aarti at sunset in the main ghat. Hopefully tomorow I can.