Leslie in India

I can't believe it's been almost a whole month in Varanasi! Time has been going so fast, but somehow it feels like I've done so much. My final paper is due one week from today, so I've spent the past few days writing that. I usually get up in the morning and go out for my usual breakfast:

and sit for a while, eating toast, drinking chai, and writing the paper (by hand!)

Then I work or wander until lunch and off to the Internet cafe from lunch until I can't handle working anymore.
Sarah left a few days ago, so it's been kind of lonely around here. I got closer with Simon, the over 6'5" tall Danish yoga master:

We've spent a lot of time hanging out, talking philosophy, and eating apple pie together.
(Katie secretly took this picture during our kite flying. Simon and I sometimes sit on the roof together sunning and studying.)

The weather here has gotten dramatically colder. The highs are still in the low 80's/high 70's, but the nights are getting cold (lows actually in the 40's!). After not experiencing cold for so long, it's been shocking. The buildings here aren't built for cold weather, because of the rest of the year, so it's often colder inside than it is out, which makes for some freezing nights.

I'm leaving on Saturday for Jaipur (with one night in Delhi in between). I have about a week and a half there to finish my paper, do presentations, and say goodbye to everyone before mom and dad arrive, soon followed by Holly!

I'm happy with the research I've done here- it's working together in the paper, which is really comforting since I had no idea how to really formulate a research project.

Here are some more pictures I didn't get to upload earlier:

The view from Mahant-ji's patio

The view from my room into the central area of the guesthouse. The roof is open above the center, which is nice for the several hours of the day that the city is without power.