Varanasi

After seeing the world for over 18 months now, nothing really excites me or awes me as much as they once did. A temple here, a waterfall there - only so much of this can excite you.

But then I arrived in the ancient Holy Hindu city of Varanasi. Wow. This place has to be one of the most fantastic sights in the world. Situated on the banks of the Ganges river, you really see another world before you.

I don't know where to start. Along the Ganges life spiritually and literally begins and ends with the Hindus. Open air cremations happen daily, and take as long as 5 hours until the ashes are thrown into the river. Watching this is something else. 10 meters down river the city people are bathing. 15 meters further there's people squatting using the river as there toilet. 20 more meters there's boat man, gamblers, snake charmers, and dhobi's - a place where the laundry gets done (yes, even my clothes got washed in the river) 25 more metes this whole process starts again. Absolutely unreal.

And then you have the Babas. They have renounced all material possessions, and live in make shift tents along the ghats. Some choose to wear bright orange, yellow clothing, others wear only their dreadlocks they've had growing for over 50 years. Think of a Rasta Man meeting Krusty the Clown meeting Cheech and Chong. As these Babas do all day is smoke their chillum - a hashish pipe of sorts, and get high. Sometimes the ambitious ones feel the need to rub themselves in ash and walk around naked down by the river. Smoking hash has never made me feel like this, but maybe it's that Ganges water they bathe in.

On top of that add a fire festival (bonfires in the middle of the street/alleyways/everywhere), a paint festival (Mardi Gras with paint), my 25th Birthday, nightly Ganges river ceremonies, Nepalese and Himalayan hashish, monkeys. goats and water buffalo a plenty, good people and cool music - and you have a week spent in one of the most amazing places I have ever witnessed.