Were about to play a game called snaps

Varnassi has been absolutely wild the last couple of days! Yesterday we got to visit Sarnath, the place were Buddha taught his first teaching. It was an incredibly serene and peaceful place, and we were able to sit by a huge shrine and meditate for a while. There were hundreds of Indians making a pilgrimage to the spot and many of them would get down on there hands and knees and touch the ground with their head in worship. It was a heartwarming experience and just another thing that I can now cross off my bucket list. After we left the shrine D money took us to a wicked sweet Tibetan monastery that had some of the most beautiful and ornate paintings / sculptures of the Buddha I had ever seen. The place was incredibly nice and we could even see monks sitting around the sculptures reading Buddhist scriptures and discussing them. When we finally made it back to Varnassi we had music lessons, some of the group played the sitar but John, Sanch, Boki, and I played the Tabula, a very cool set of drums that was easy to pick up, but wicked difficult to master. The man that was teaching us named Babloo was amazing and could jam for days on those things. Later on at night we came back to the same music shop for a concert featuring Indian singing and dancing, as well as the instruments we had learned about earlier. Indian music puts me in such a deep trance, I could hardly keep my eyes open during the show! Afterwards I went straight to bed in preperation for tomorrow, when we had to be awake by 5am.

When I awoke the next day I was pretty miserable, 5am is just too early to be awake. But D-money took us out on the holy Ganges to see the sunrise, and its hard to stay mad watching something like that. Afterwards we were given a free day to rest and relax, and I think me and some of the guys are about to go get a quality Indian massage. Tomorrow we have a 15 hour train ride to corbett national park, so I figure my back could use the extra attention!

Early Morning Sunrise

We woke up today really early around 4:30 to be ready by 5 to go on the Holy Ganges river to see the sunrise. Not only was it beautiful but it was majestic in its own way. I really enjoy taking the boat rides and looking at how the whole town works together as one heartbeat. In America you really don't see this anymore and its sad people here are cooperating with each other to get tasks done. While i would probably still be asleep in America, Varanasi is bustling with people trying to get prepared for the days up coming activity's. We also got to see to cremation sites where people are burned and set free in the river thats why its considered so holy. I feel like its a privilege for me to witness these timeless traditions that probably have been around longer then America has been a country. I am really excited for what else India has in store for me in the weeks to come.

-Boki Poluga

A Taste of the Classical Music of India

Yesterday we had the opportunity to take some lessons and watch a performance of Indian classical music.  I took lessons in the sitar and voice.  In the sitar lesson, we learned the proper way to sit and hold the instrument.  We each received picks and learned how to play the classical Indian scale.  I found it really interesting that they have the note C fixed as "do," instead of being able to change "do" to create other keys like we do in Western music.  The sitar is a very beautiful instrument.  In my voice lesson, I learned to sing the classical Indian scale.  At first I had a little trouble pronouncing the syllables correctly, but after my teacher wrote them down it was a little easier.  I thought it was interesting that we sat down through the lesson.  In the West, it is traditional to stand while performing or practicing.  We did a few other exercising ascending and descending the scale.  I fee like a learned a lot.   

We came back in the evening for a concert and it was amazing.  I was struck by the complexity of the musical textures and melodies.  The parts of the pieces we heard blended together in an incredible way, but I felt that each instrument would have been impressive playing their own part alone.  The singer was wonderful.  He sang really complicated vocal runs and trills with ease.  It was breathtaking.  I was so glad that we were able to experience this wonderful music.       

Music in another language

During our first night in Varanasi, we had the opportunity to listen to a group of musicians perform classical and folk Indian music.  These musicans are extremely famous and have performed all over India.  The group consisted of four musicians total, each playing a different instrument: sitar, tabla, sarangi,  and a horn/flute-like instrument.  The music produced from a combination of these instruments was so soothing and angelic.  Each note that sprung from the musical devices was like a heavenly melody from the gods.  It was a great way to end such a long and tiring day.  Yesterday, we had to priviledge to work with the musicians and learn how to play the instrument of our choice.  I chose to learn how to play the sitar, which was a popluar choice among most of the students.  Our teacher was Tarak Nath Mishra. We were taught the proper way to hold the sitar (like the professionals) as well as some basic scales and chords.  Mr. Mishra stated that music is the same all across the world, just the language is different.  For example, in America we use Do, Re, Me, Fa, etc. , and in India they use Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, etc. Never would I have fathomed that I would learn the basics of playing the sitar. 

Where the Buddha First Taught

Today we visited one of the holy sites in Buddhism, the town of Sarnath. This was where the Buddha taught his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya. We visited this one monastery with a beautifully painted wall of the Buddha's life. Many of us meditated here for some time, and I made a donation and purchased some books for sale. Outside, they had the full text of his first sermon from the Tipitika inlaid on a shrine.
We then went to the stupa constructed by order of king Asoka, who patronized Buddhism after his conversion. This and its surrounding monasteries were in ruins, which is testament to the idea of impermanence taught by the Buddha.
After some driving, we went to a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. This place was completely different from the other one. upon entering their grounds, I could see how serene of a place this monastery was. Inside, there were two monks engaged in some serious study in their books. We walked around the place, and took some pictures, while doing our best to maintain quiet for the monks. We meditated here as well, and then left as quietly as we came. out of the corner of my ear I could hear a bunch of younger voices speaking in a language I could not understand. I asked Dr. Maher, and he said that those were the voices of novice monks being educated.
To become a monk seems like one of the most selfless thing a person could do, so I have a lot of respect for those who embark on that journey.

[Photo of the Sarnath Tibetan Monastery from web]

So far in India..

India is amazing. I never in my life ever thought I would see myself in India, but here I am! And so far it's been a fun, exciting, exhausting experience. My view of India was Totally different than how it really is here. India is a gorgeous place, in it's own way. The heat is overbearing but you get used to it after a few days. The sweating constantly becomes apart of everyday life for us here. We search for shade and cold water constantly. I think the heat and everything here is testing a lot of our physical endurance. I hope that when I go back I am more physically capable of doing more things. So far the places we have visited have been amazing. I am so glad to have come. Even if the weather is killer!

Jess (:

Varanasi

The Ganges River that runs along the city of Varanasi is very beautiful but can it can mean deathly illness for us. Although the people come here to bathe in the holy river everyday. We wee all tempted to jump in during a boat ride because of the heat but didn't due to the potential consequences. Varanasi has so much character and the people are so memorable. The ghats of Varanasi are all diverse. The one we are staying at is called Assi Ghat which is one of many ghats. While walking down the river you can see clothes drying, people bathing, and temples. Today we visited the burning ghat where hundreds of bodies are cremated everyday. It was eye opening to be able to experience and observe this sacred tradition. Jami