Road to the City of Life - Varanasi

Hello family and friends, sorry it's been so long since our last/1st update but much has happened since our last writing and we've finally reached a place with good internet connection. Since our last message we traveled over 500 miles (more than 300 hundred by cycle and around 200 by train). We came through a state know as Jharkhand which is very remote and we saw no other foreign tourist for almost 3 weeks. During this time we struggled to learn how to cycle safely on the roads and during the day in India. There are virtually no road rules in India and the horns are a constant reminder to stay alert if you want to stay alive. Keep close to the edge get ready to go off road if big trucks are passing...funny how some of the trucks love to blow their very loud horns right as they pass you, which gives you a intense brain piercing resonation for  several seconds afterwards. On the days we cycle we try to start at around 5-6am because by 8:30am the heat can be unbearable. In the first 2 weeks we had a total of about 2 hours rain, which was very welcomed. Now that we are in Varanasi the rain has started to come more consistently and it has really help cool things down :) Anyway, the state we just came out of was most interesting in the fact that people couldn't believe 2 crazy cyclists would bike thorough India in the summer, especially through remote areas...we were actually interviewed by an inter/national news station. We stopped in a place called Betla N.P. where we there are supposedly 17 or more tigers but we only saw a "tiger's den", but many monkeys, antelopes, some peacocks and a couple of wolves..we also rode an elephant I liked to call Bumpy (if you ever ridden a horse- imagine this except your body constantly gyrates in a 360 degree motion: note - don't eat before this experience. 

Well, we've reached the city of Varanasi...one of the oldest and longest continually inhabited cities in the world, right on the river Ganges. This place is incredible, we've been here for 3 days and arrived with the full moon. This place has nightly ceremonies at 7pm where they pray and chant along the river and then the people walk to the river and through flowers and light floating candles in the water...incredible. There are holy people and temples everywhere and everyone offering many things. Donavon and I had been looking for a place to get a massage after all our bike riding but like many things here the massage came to us; we were walking towards the river and a man reached out his hand to shake and then starts massaging my fingers working his way to my arm and then my shoulder, I closed my eyes and just felt the energy flowing from his hands to release tension in my sore/tight muscles. Next thing I know, I'm lying down next to river getting an amazing massage. We've been invited by many people to have tea and talk about being in the moment and finding peace and harmony in life and just thinking of this brings a smile to my heart, my soul has brought me here and I'm so thankful. Well friends, I think I'll stop here but please enjoy some of our photos and we;ll try to post more stories and pictures in the coming weeks. We will stay in Varanasi at least 5 more days doing 2 hour morning yoga sessions and then just exploring the endless labyrinths of stores and temples, as well as walking along the Ganges. Please be well, be in this moment -loving yourself and sending a smile to those around you. Love to you, Will and Donavon

P.S.  Donavon got an awesome tattoo today and we are so excited about it, something he's wanted for a while and something he'll never forget!

Break in the shade

Temple in Bishnapur

Donavon in traditional clothes- Bishnapur

Temple/Donavon-Bishnapur

1st train ride from Bishnapur to Ranchi

Monkey friend in Betla N.P

Saved a monkey who couldn't swim

Bumpy- our elephant buddy

Bumpy's beautiful eye

Street view from back of Rickshaw - cycle

Donavon and me in Rickshaw

View of Varanasi and Ganges

Cycling through India

Donavon's wish is granted?