On thursday we spent the day in Orchha again. We went to the old palace there, that hasn't been inhabited since the 17th century, it was amazing though, a mix of Hindu and Muslim architecture whith so many buildings. In the afternoon we just lay by the pool and sunbathed which was so nice and then went to see the sound and light show back at the palace in the evening. It was a story of the Kings that ruled there over 150 years so quite interesting. We then had to get the overnight train to Varanassi so went to the station quite late. There were so many people sleeping there, like last time, so it must just be their home which is so sad. Was quite funny cos when we were on the platform we had to wait half an hour so we all sat down on our bags and then literally about 30 men surrounded us like they'd never seen white people, they just stod there watching us lol!! But then there were two 4ish year old children in just little shorts and so dirty that were asking us for food etc. Atul, our guide, just says to ignore anyone who asks you for things, otherwise they won't leave you alone, so it makes you feel such a horrible person! The thing is, if the children fget lots of money and food, it won't go to them anyway, but also if they're good at it, their parents are less likely to send them to school.

We got to Varanassi at lunchtime on Friday and had a couple of hours free time. We were staying really far out of the main town bit so we just chilled out until meeting up with everone again at 4ish. We all went in to Varanassia nd went on a boat on the Ganges to watch to sunset and then to watch to ceremony that the priests do on the waters edge every evening. We were one of about 50 boats and then there were hundreds of people of the water edge. Was really cool to watch, it lasts about an hour and they ring a bell continuously and do different rituals with them same music playing all the time. They do it to purify the air and to remember those who've died that day I think. It's the most religious place in India for Hindus - they believe that the river Ganges was formed from Lord Vishnu's head so that the ashes of his 60,000 dead sons could go to heaven, so that's why they put the ashes of the people they burn on the waters edge into the Ganges. We saw three dead bodies being burnt, they've covered in flowers and cloth on wood and they burn for 24hours. Children, pregnant women, and those with lepracy and aren't though, their bodies are just thrown in to rthe river as they believe they haven't had a full life so they want to preserve their body to be reborn as a human to try again!

On Saturday morning we went back to the river and watched the sunrise. Eveyone is up at that time, washing in the river etc which is so gross, there must be so many diseases in the river. They think it is holy though and pilgrims come from all over India and the world to take a dip in the water as they believe it cleans them of their sins past, present and future?! The town has a strange atmosphere, it's all about death, thich they celebrate as they're one step closer to Nirvana and are going to reincarnated again, but I'm not sure I like it very much. this morning we got a coach at 7am to start the journey to Nepal.

So India = Done!! We arrived in Nepal at 6pm today after an 11 hour coach journey! Actually went really quickly though, I took travel sickness tablets which knock you out so I slept most of the way! The roads were soo bumpy, there aren't really any main roads in India so we were just going through villages and towns from Varanassi. India has been an incredible experience, so great to see it. It's so different it's hard to even explain, all the cities seem the same in terms of noise, manicness and dirtyness, but they all have their slight differences. I think the hardest thing has been the children begging, there are just so many that just spend their days on the roadside, just sitting in the rubbish piles or selling things..even fake crying to get you to give them money, so it's pretty tough. So many are really friendly though, they all wave when they see white people and some just want to come and chat!

Nepla is so so different already and we haven't really seen anay of it. We drove 45minutes from the boarder to Lumbini where we're staying tonight and it's so noticeable how quiet the streets are and how many less people there are! So we've got until next Saturday in Nepal, really looking forward to it :)!!