Guijar Village

On our way into the jungle to see a Gujjar village on the tractor

Children in the Gujjar village

A painted mud house

Kitchen

Bed

Sleeping quilts in the sleeping area

Schools- Government and Private

This is a one room government school for children who cannot pay for school.  The children were happy, but supplies are few and there is no furniture in the classroom 

This is the private school run by the ashram.  Many scholarships are given out. The fee is about 1000 rupees a year, about 15 dollars- These are 5th graders.

Rural Life

Cutting wheat by hand in Shaympur near Sri Ram

Cow patties drying in the sun . They are used to burn for cooking.

Cow pies- When dry, they don't smell!

Carrying wood in Shaympur

Nalanda

Visiting the archeological site of Nalanda, a great university that was in existence from the 7th to the 12th century, before the great universities of Europe

The sun setting over Nalanda

Vulture Peak

Young boy with a cricket bat

Walking up to vulture Peak where the Buddha taught

At the top of Vulture Peak watching the sunset.

Receiving a teaching from our teacher/guide of the meaning of this place in the life of The Buddha

Temple Hopping in Bodhgaya

An Indian teacher from a missionary school visiting Buddhist temples in Bodhgaya 

We take our shoes off to enter a Buddhist temple as a show of respect

Inside the Bhutanese temple

More from Uruvela

This is a Bodhi tree like the one that The Buddha became The Buddha under 

Friendly people in Uruvela village

Children playing in Uruvela

Uruvela Village

We were welcomed into a home in Uruvela village outside of Bodgaya

Children working

Woman carrying greens home from the field

Walking through the fields

We also visited a four generation family at their home.  They welcomed us with tea and biscuits and let us ask questions about their life.  It was after dark on a warm night and we sat out on blankets on their roof.

Famous Buddha

Our hotel had a copy of a famous statue of the Buddha that we had seen in a museum in Sarnath.  I had a bit of fun having a quiet moment.

Traveling

There are many trucks on the big roads and they are all decorated in some way.

We have traveled by air, elephant, jeep, rickshaw, bicycle, and lots of bus time.

Jacquard weaving

Tonight we visited a jacquard weaving shop run by the Mehta family.

Silk jacquard weaving on a special loom.  Most of the weaving is done on homes and weavers are paid by the piece.

Close up of the beautiful colors of the weaving.

Old style knot looms used before Indian independence  in 1947 because the jacquard machines were not British!

Samples of Weaving

Varanasi continued

Free food on a Varanasi street for those in need 

A temple to the god Shiva at Banares University in Varanasi

Mrs. Tuttle and a friend doing yoga at the temple 

Using a neem stick for a toothbrush, a common thing in Varanasi.

We were also sitting under a neem tree!

The Ganga ghats

The ghats, or stairs, leading down to the Ganges River are used for many things.

The ghats, or stairs, leading down to the Ganges River are used for many things.

Boys selling small flowers with a candle to float in the river as an offering.

People bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges River

Varanasi

We took a ride on the bicycles rickshaw that took us down to Ma Ganga, the Ganges River to see where Hindu people come to cremate the dead and send them off to heaven.  An incredible flow of sights, sounds, and rituals.

Celebrating Holi!

Today was Holi, the celebration of color to welcome spring. We were guests at a home in Udaipur  to celebrate.

Our group before celebrating. 

Children celebrating

A super soaker to help celebrate

After celebrating

Aren't we colorful?

There really are loose cows everywhere!  They wander on all roads, even the highway!  There are even feeding stations where people bring grass and grain because it is auspicious to take care of the cows!