So I was going to write about a supermarket experience that surprised me in Nepal, which I thought was a good story.. well, not really a story.. I guess it would be if I told it in person, but in writing form its more of a few sentences. But then, here in Varanasi, it was one-upped. Let me start from the Nepal end of this story, so I was shopping for tea with my buddy Dev and we were just passing through the spices section.. looking at all the different seeds and things, cardamom, cumin... a whole bunch of other random ones, then, what, what is this? pot! they sell pot seeds at the supermarket! I though that was amusing. But then, onto part two, while walking the streets here in Varanasi I find government run weeds shops! Established here to be the official suppliers for the shiva priests, whose deal it is to smoke up all day. Since this is a 'holy' city there is a ton of em. Now I find this difficult to even begin to comment on, so ill leave it there and move on. Ahh how about a short recollection of a funny awesome only in India moment?

So I was just a stones throw from the border (Nepal side), after two quick bus rides down from Tansen (ok actually this is a Nepali story, same same but different eh) and I needed to jump into a jeep to make the last couple km's to the crossing. So I pile onto this tiny, overcrowded, doorless 80's style safari looking thing, managing by the grace of God to get the front seat. That means with my bag on my lap, I could luxuriously hang my legs out the part where the door is ment to be and finally get some stretching time. So yer anyway, it was me, some other guy and the driver in the front, with quite possibly 100 tiny black guys jammed into the back somewhere somehow. So we were off. Good so far right, tho a fairly standard situation. The amusing part was when we stopped 100 meters or so up the road and the driver jumps out and some other dude piles in. 'Oh, a driver change' I naively think to myself. Now I am quite accustomed to the transport overloading which is common here, quite often I take busses where the only space I get is a 6 inch slab of room on the foot rail outside the door and half a hand grip on the inside railing. But when the driver of this jeep slid one foot back in and reached over the passenger in his seat to change gear I could not help but laugh. It is one of those things I should of taken a photo of, but alas, space was scarce and I could not reach my camera. Though it is worth trying to picture this. The driver fully outside the jeep, with his arms and legs sticking around this guy, trying to control the thing as we careen down a muddy path in the scant border town of Sunali. Perhaps invision a cow or two standing round in the background somewhere too. Ahhhh classic. And so with this amusing memory I said good bye to Nepal with a great smile. See you again in September I say.

So anyway, as you guessed from above somewhere, I am now in Varanasi. Quite lovely I must admit. Sunny and rainy and quite hot. Perhaps every hour or so it rains heavly for 3-4 minutes. Then pow, sun again! With a touch of cloud thrown in for good measure. Tho I forgot how suck and kinda funny it is to just lie down to sleep and pow pow, power cut, ah ha! and you thought you were going to sleep?! you cannot repress a giggle as the fan slowly spins down and the sweat instantly begins to build... Ahh how reminiscent of Culcutta. Ah so anyway, I don't really know what I am doing now. Just finishing an awesome lecture series on Habakkuk from Matt Chandler while reading an awesome book, which I will talk about in a minute.
In regards to plans for the next few weeks, well I have a Church contact in Dehli sent by my little brother and one in Leh, so at the moment it looks like in a week or so I am heading that way.

Regarding Varanasi, it has all worked out quite well here so far, came directly to an awesome little cheap lodge in old city. No walking around aimlessly for hours which was a first for me. They also have two zones of power in the building, so when there is load shedding in my room, I can just whip down to the ground floor and the fans there are still going. In Nepal there was one book I really really wanted to read, but each time I went to buy it I never ended up doing so. Particularly because I was also so 'busy' at Compassion, but also the time was never quite practical. Anyway, it was on the top of my 'ill read this guy next' list. And what do I find when I look in the little collection of the 5 or so english books tucked away in the reception here? Thats right, a copy with over 98% of the pages intact. Thankyou Lord. So yes, ill be taking that directly to the rooftop to commence reading, along with a nice cup of chai of course.

Ps. This photo is dedicated to Grg, Dinz and Mck for their lovely pic last week.


Currently reading: Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy