Relaxing in Calcutta...

Wow, what a shift in scenery for Evrim and I...

Being at the Krishnamurti center at the Raj Ghat school in Varanasi I can easily speak for us both when I say that it was a unique and special part of our trip to stay in such a place. So, going from that setting of luscious green trees, roses that smell of jasmine, and a large, quite library overlooking landscaped gardens, and the flowing holy Ganga it was much of a shock arriving to the hustle and bustle of Bodhgaya, which is known to be the holiest spot for Buddhist pilgrims.

In Bodhgaya we stayed at the Root Institute, another Tibetan Buddhist study and medical help center. I have to admit that what I enjoyed most staying at the Root Institute was the delicious food. We were finally eating organic and clean, and the food actually felt nourishing! (so we were a bit spoiled coming from the K center's amazing Indian food and now to the Root Institute). One night after eating Tibetan Momo soup (which is like a thin vegetable dumpling soup), we got to have our very first brownie in India. The brownie was in a shape of a ball and was filled with different kinds of nuts and rolled in coconut. You can't imagine how much of a treat this was for us. We were giggling in delight.

Aside from the food we also were able to visit the various sites in and around Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is sort of like a Buddhist Disney World, minus the cleanliness and plus a lot of beggars. First we went to Vulture's Peak, the spot where the Buddha gave his teaching on the Heart Sutra/Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (the prajnaparamita). At the site there is also an amazing Japanese temple that you take a chair lift to reach. This was a very funny scene. We had never seen Indians laugh so much than when they were hopping on to these chair lifts. After another hot and bumpy ride from Vultures Peak we also visited the site of Nalanda University, which was the largest Buddhist University in the world until it was destroyed by Muslim invasions. This was one of the most amazing places I've ever seen and also one of the saddest. We were about to walk around going in and out of monasteries and temples which are now in ruins, but you can still imagine monks congregating, debating, and worshiping... which is what we did. The final site that we visited was the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree, where the Buddha attained enlightenment... It is an amazing tree and it is worshiped and prayed over all day long.

Finally after another 4:00AM train ride Evrim and I reached Kolkata where we were graciously greeted by Atiya and Arun (Hala and Halu, Aunty and Uncle) who are now taking wonderful care of us and feeding us the most amazing Indian food we have had the entire trip.