Newark NJ > Zurich > Mumbai > Varanasi > Mumbai > Zurich > Newark
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The subject line reminds me of a killer second set.
15 days til liftoff....
Have posted here about my international family and my Portland, OR based son and daughter (by marriage)'s large family in India. (search for keyword “cavitation” in other stuff)
I'm just a NJ DeadHead who roosted near Woodstock in New Paltz 27 years ago. Nothing in my Wonder Bread upbringing prepared me for moving to Springtown TN to have Ina May Gaskin homebirth this son. In this marriage, I am the DeadHead - from Jersey - who needs to ooop something down to find astral planes.
But my dear wife is the Child of the Universe and has pulled me along with her to amazing places and experiences. Very Grateful and appreciative.
Gonna get strange…. heading out on an epic trip soon. This Jersey boy just holding on tight.
Newark NJ > Zurich > Mumbai > Varanasi > Mumbai > Zurich > Newark
No F-ing way I am flying in a tin can for 14 hours direct to India. Zurich seems like a lot of museums and architecture on the surface - any advice on more hip diversions/adventures? Will be there for 1 night en route to India and 3 nights on the return.
Mumbai will be fully scripted - family is in the Big House Vice Chancellor residence on a big university campus with full staff. Will be in a comfy cocoon.
But Varansai (locals call it Banaras) is a bit intimidating. Oldest continuous dwelling on the planet and where Hindus come to die in holy funeral pyres on the Ganges River.
Any Zoners been there?
My son lived with a family there during his Gap Year program, and my wife returned with him a few years later. My India family knows Varanasi well, but I tend to often slip away on such trips for an afternoon to drift on my own … just gotta poke around.
Any suggestions? Not a question where I would turn to TripAdvisor for answers. Thanks in advance
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
Mark Twain said: "Benaras is
Mark Twain said: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together”.
I was there back in 2001. I was going to skip because funeral city didn't appeal to me, but so glad I ended up going. Crazy place, crazy monkeys everywhere, and 24/7/365 cremating of bodies shipped in from all over India. The streets are so narrow that you can reach out and touch the walls on both sides. Smells like BBQ. I did a boat ride on the river but wouldn't recommend. You get the idea from standing on the side. Just walk around.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Thank you, El Nino. Love the
Thank you, El Nino. Love the quote and the sage advice
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jazfish
Bon Voyage! Gonna keep an eye
Bon Voyage! Gonna keep an eye on this one. World travel threads are good threads. Have a blast , Nod.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Sounds like an epic adventure
Sounds like an epic adventure. Are you getting a ton of shots before India? Never been but want to and hear it's an overwhelming assault on the senses
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
<<<
<<<
hear it's an overwhelming assault on the senses
>>>
Hah, Ken! When my son arrived in India for his Gap Year program, his very first post was entitled "Smelly Dehli"
Have been to Mumbai, and it was sensory overload, but pedestrians do not have the right of way and the streets were (literally) full of speeding Tuk Tuks - 3 wheeled motorized bike/taxis.
Spent most of my time just trying to get across the street.
Varanasi is gonna be real. More (holy) cows on the street than TukTuks.
Never again will I be such an alien :-) Long, long way from Montville NJ in so many ways. No need for chemicals to trip balls this time around :-)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Varanasi Monkeys
Varanasi Monkeys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXjKrra2z2A
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
24 hours in cold and rainy
24 hours in cold and r
ainy Zurich was a great way to break up travel to India. Pic is from a sunnier day.
The Diwali holiday in Inda - kind of a cross between Christmas and July 4th. Arrived in Mumbai
My son married us into our India family 5 years ago. Wedding garb covered the big Stealie tat on his chest
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
View from the 2nd floor patio
View from the 2nd floor patio of our room at Mumba
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
India family gathering
India family gathering
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
The reason I'm here ...
The reason I'm here ...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Cool pics. Must be cool to
Cool pics. Must be cool to have peeps who are locals and know the area. Bet the food is amazing.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dimethyllovebeam
Thanks for sharing, donster.
Thanks for sharing, donster. It sounds like there's a lot to be proud of for both families.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Thanks Ken & Joe..... to be
Thanks Ken & Joe..... to be in such a different place, but not as tourists, is an amazing opportunity. Watched the finals India vs Australia of World Cup Cricket along w/ most of India (Aussies won) and I actually understood the rules by the end of the game.
Nothing like India food prepared by Indians! And nothing like driving through the streets of Mumbai in a car with a professional driver - not for the faint of heart, Inch or two away from striking pedestrians ( who dont have right of way to cross busy streets and must calculate running for their lives to cross with inches between cars, motorcycles and people going in different directions at speeds. I would be a quivering pile of poo behind the wheel here
2 weeks to go!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
I love that we have you to
I love that we have you to share your observations and experiences with us. Thank you.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Viva la Zone, Judit!
Viva la Zone, Judit!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Love this thread, thanks for
Love this thread, thanks for sharing.
From your itinerary, I've only visited Zurich. Enjoyed my time there, and remember visiting a dispensary of plant medicines. I spent far more time in smaller villages and rambling around the outdoors.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Diwali lights
Diwali lights
https://vimeo.com/886722193
https://vimeo.com/886723096
A short drive in Mumbai (lot less crazy than my 1st one...)
https://vimeo.com/886724934
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
The Diwali lights are my kind
The Diwali lights are my kind of magical.
LLOLLO, the only place I've been on Don's itinerary was Newark (airport, 1978), also the only place I've been to east of the Rockies.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Judit, I sincerely hope that
Judit, I sincerely hope that the trip you were planning before COVID happens for you soon!
beautiful lights, indeed, need to read up on that festival
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Street dog found a friend
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Looking for a friend
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
Great stuff. Thank you for
Great stuff. Thank you for sharing.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Looks like they need some
Pretty lights, but looks like they need some more sidewalks (crosswalks too).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
>>>they need some more
>>>they need some more sidewalks (crosswalks too).
You don't realize what a luxury it is to be able to walk in places without constantly looking down. My right toe is still fucked from slamming into a lip at the entrance of a store at the highest end mall in Bangkok 22 years ago.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jazfish
Digging this thread!
Digging this thread!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Ken,
Ken,
The coordination, eye contact & horns blowing between pedestrians, motorcycles, cars and bikes is astounding to behold. Lifetimes of practice.
Somehow they all make it work....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Arrived in Varanasi - the
Arrived in Varanasi - the oldest known continuous community in the world..... 11th century BC (!)
"holy cow" is much more than a saying in India (traffic was bad .... notice that motorcycle traffic was using the sidewalk .... soon to be joined by "Tuk Tuk" 3 wheeled taxis
https://vimeo.com/887338270
Driving in India is complete chaos, but somehow it always works
https://vimeo.com/887340738
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Funeral fires on the Ganges
Funeral fires on the Ganges River on Thursday
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
We had a stylish new Air B
The first 100 yards from our lodging to the airport. Narrow trash lined streets
https://vimeo.com/888267387
The next 100 yards
https://vimeo.com/888269212