I've added some more photos. The first set are from Holi (or the "Festival of Colours" - well actually post-Holi. Holi in Varanasi is a bit nutty and so as women (especially foreign women) we were advised to spend Holi locked inside. Luckily there were a group of us who were able to spend it together in the WLC palace, which has a great view of the Ganga and all the craziness along the ghats.
Photos:
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=276759233/a=115330919_115330919/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish
The second set are from International Women's Day. See for explanation of game/event: http://www.worldlit.ca/kabaddi.html
Photos:
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=276759514/a=115330919_115330919/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Varanasi - some photos and ultrabrief update
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=276627360/a=115330919_115330919/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish
Hello all! I've updated the snapfish site with a few more photos. It has not been easy to upload so I've just added a few and once I figure out how to upload faster, will add some more.
This is an incredible city - perhaps only comparable to Jerusalem in terms of the feel. It is one of the holiest sites in Hinduism. Pilgrims come from all over India to pray, cremate their relatives and bathe in the sacred River Ganges. Along the west bank of the River is a series of ghats, which are steps that lead down to the river. At any given time while walking along the ghats one can see children playing cricket, locals selling flowers, people bathing in the River, boats (and the many "boatmen" trying to sell their services: "Boat Madam? Madam, boat?"), men sipping chai beside small wooden chai stalls, tourists taking photographs of poor children, people praying at the many temples along the River, men peeing, men leering, men chewing and spitting paan, bulls chewing and spitting, people trying to avoid spit and poo, families collecting bull/cow poo (used as fuel and for walls and floors), stoned hippies staring into space, stoned religious men staring into space, begging women, begging men, begging children.
On the work/volunteer front, I'm really enjoying my time at WLC. Yesterday was an amazing day. I went with one of the staff to a rural site to interview women who had taken loans from their "Self Help Groups" to purchase sewing machines. SHGs are groups of up to 20 women who all contribute 20-30 rupees each month to the group's savings. The group can decide to lend women within the group money from the group's savings as needed. Among other things, I'm writing up "success stories" for WLC reports and publications. These women had effectively doubled their household incomes through the sale of their products in their communities. Both women learned to sew through the WLC sewing training centre in their community. You'll see images of the two women I interviewed (with the help of Neetu's translation) on the snapfish site.
Last Friday I moved into the guesthouse just across from where the WLC is located. I have my own balcony with a partial view of the Ganga. I love it (and at the rate of approx. $2.50/night, it will be hard to leave!).
Will write more soon and please send news!
Luv Nadine
Hello all! I've updated the snapfish site with a few more photos. It has not been easy to upload so I've just added a few and once I figure out how to upload faster, will add some more.
This is an incredible city - perhaps only comparable to Jerusalem in terms of the feel. It is one of the holiest sites in Hinduism. Pilgrims come from all over India to pray, cremate their relatives and bathe in the sacred River Ganges. Along the west bank of the River is a series of ghats, which are steps that lead down to the river. At any given time while walking along the ghats one can see children playing cricket, locals selling flowers, people bathing in the River, boats (and the many "boatmen" trying to sell their services: "Boat Madam? Madam, boat?"), men sipping chai beside small wooden chai stalls, tourists taking photographs of poor children, people praying at the many temples along the River, men peeing, men leering, men chewing and spitting paan, bulls chewing and spitting, people trying to avoid spit and poo, families collecting bull/cow poo (used as fuel and for walls and floors), stoned hippies staring into space, stoned religious men staring into space, begging women, begging men, begging children.
On the work/volunteer front, I'm really enjoying my time at WLC. Yesterday was an amazing day. I went with one of the staff to a rural site to interview women who had taken loans from their "Self Help Groups" to purchase sewing machines. SHGs are groups of up to 20 women who all contribute 20-30 rupees each month to the group's savings. The group can decide to lend women within the group money from the group's savings as needed. Among other things, I'm writing up "success stories" for WLC reports and publications. These women had effectively doubled their household incomes through the sale of their products in their communities. Both women learned to sew through the WLC sewing training centre in their community. You'll see images of the two women I interviewed (with the help of Neetu's translation) on the snapfish site.
Last Friday I moved into the guesthouse just across from where the WLC is located. I have my own balcony with a partial view of the Ganga. I love it (and at the rate of approx. $2.50/night, it will be hard to leave!).
Will write more soon and please send news!
Luv Nadine
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