Varanasi - bathing in the Ganges

Varanasi.  What can I say?  Last night we took a boat onto the Ganges and watched yet another beautiful sunset, witnessed the Arti ceremony where Mother Ganges is put to sleep (an incredibly noise event, attended by what seemed like thousands of people both on-shore and on the river) and also saw from a distance the ever-burning funeral pyres, 9 of them, and saw some beautifully wrapped corpses being taken down to be put onto a pyre.

An early start this morning - about 5am - to catch the sunrise over the Ganges (see 'extra') and witness the amazing activity going on by many, many people at that early hour: bathing, meditating, praying, washing clothes, barbers shaving their customers.  Incredible. 

Later, we drove to Sarnath where Buddha gave his first sermon. This was incredibly peaceful.  The whole day felt very peaceful and uplifting.

Being away from television, newspapers, social media etc I was totally oblivious to what was happening in Paris.