WELCOME TO INDIA . . .

Got up at 5:15AM so we could hit the double-whammy (Nepal/India) border crossings at 6AM. Nepal was a breeze. India . . . not so. Lots of shenanigans, seemingly no reason. Still got out and about at a decent hour and drove basically straight through to Varanasi at 7PM.

Based on the border crossing, the reactions during the drive and the bulk of the help at the lovely (really) Hotel Surya, India is COMPLETELY different than Nepal. Leering guys, guys who race down the highways with flashlights so they can look at the women doing a "roadside pit-stop" in the dark, dishonest moneychangers, restaurant proprietor seats you at table where benches have wet paint that gets all over your clothes, waiter at hotel who tried to overcharge for items never delivered and then refused to talk to the women because apparently the men make all the decisions here and women don't count. Hmmmm . . . I'm sure this is a very preliminary assessment. Right? Right? RRRIIGGGGHHHHTTTTT????

It's a trip. The Drago truck and its occupants are apparently quite fascinating and people can not quit staring at it and us. It's like we're the star attractions in a cheap zoo. We actually had two guys on a motorcycle crash and wreck this afternoon because they were staring at us so hard. I have been forbidden to wave at anyone unless they are under ten and stationary.

We meet at 5:30AM tomorrow for a sunrise boatride down the Ganges and then some touring of the city. Spend tomorrow night here, then off to hunt tigers. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, which is tomorrow here. Don't know if we are eating turkey & all the fixins', but we ARE having "bhang lhassis" tomorrow night, so I'm sure I'll have some great stories - hopefully not involving me:-)