"Look-- Dead body Miss"

Sunday Morning 9/11 around 11 am

“Dead body” The driver points out a shimmery gold fabric bundle strapped to the top of a van like a new mattress or fresh hunters kill. "Hah (Yes), I know, for Manikarnika Ghat". "Oh, Madam has been here before!" I think he was trying to shock me. (believe me its still shocking though) but when this info is discovered the tone changes and its less "ripoff" and more friendly. The driver sent from the Guptas somehow didnt work out or they just plain forgot to tell someone, so i had to take a taxi which is no problem if you know what you should and should not do.  Every minute trying to exit the airport area there is an assault on the car, changing drivers, one guys sticks his head in and shoves a plastic badge at me "Miss, I am the chief of airport police, my young son there needs a ride also to Varanasi, will you allow him to go with you?" (trying to save money, get more money, etc) this is why its so good to always ask a local friend or hotel clerk etc "What should I pay from X to Z" because in this case they told me to pay twice what it should be-- white price vs. indian price, wow what a difference eh? (750Rs vs. 1400Rs). I say no way get out of here! to the "Chief of police" and he gives me the head bob and hand flick, a lost cause not able to put one over on this one.

Even better than that I am reminded of going into Delhi Customs the guy says "Hills huh?" Look more like mountains! ah ha ha ha!" he laughs to himself loudly. at least he said it in english. I snapped back "No! not very good" in my choppy half assed Hindi.  I reported this to the Gupta's and they told me if I had reported him he would be suspended for 16 days.  But they agreed that no one spends the extra time to report these things and so they go on.

I don't remember THAT kind of blatant harrassment before. so crazy! now I am in my room at the Ganges View Hotel, (the one whose owner has five dachsunds running around) I'm going to ask him if I can borrow one  to sleep with me, ha ha!! You want crazy?! Lets get nuts!!!

The views along the sides of the road are unchanging in the 6 years I've been coming here, dirt dirt and more dirt, stumps and lumps of people and animals, underfed, no water, just living in dirt shelters.

 the water buffalo is not sacred, but here he is tied with no water, no food, who knows for howlong?  definitely underfed.

We arrive at the Ganges View Hotel at the very beginning edge of the ghats on the south, overlooking Ganges.  It is a very cute (so far) little room on the very corner (so hopefully not as much noise side to side from guests?) right above where every single entity enters through to go to the ghats (on Assi Ghat), so I hope I won't be sorry....I'm not optimistic, but this is what I begged the Guptas to reserve for me. I have my own private round gazebo type balcony with wood shutters. If you sit there or anywhere outside right now, it feels like you're inside a terrarium bowl made for rainforest lizards—the humidity and heat is unbearable.

Right now at 3 pm I will nap during the heat of the day like a lion then hit the streets when it cools down. dinner at the hotel is served at 8:30 buffet style if anyone wishes to join... don't know if i'm up for that-- trying small talk with pretentious travelers like myself trying to experience the more true "real" india by staying in a place like this.

Tomorrow I start work at Banaras 8:30 am. Talking to Siddharth today I brought up doing a small collection of my own line, and he says but of course, it would be perfect! and then naturally I've got every fashionista that has access to a showroom as friends from LA to Dallas to NY, and they all CLAIMED they would put the stuff in their showroom or could find a showroom for me in a hot minute.