A Slow Boat Down the Ganges Blog

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 43 Today was Diwali, the festival of lights. This was the day of the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartik, the day when the mythical Lord Rama came back to his kingdom after spending fourteen years in exile. The entire kingdom came out to greet him and…

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 42 Apparently I had taken up the sleeping space of one of the calfs. She was quite upset about it and constantly tried to shift the location of my cot by head butting it. Obviously she could not. She then went on to lick, then nibble, and then chew…

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 41 Ever since I started designing this expedition, I had wanted to sleep in the canoe. It is spacious, it is comfortable, and it is an experience. Last night that wish was fulfilled. However, my plan was to have a tarp sheet draped over the canoe. Last night I…

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 40 The day started from Satichaura Ghat otherwise known as Massacre Ghat. This was where about 900 British men, women and children, all innocent, were massacred by the rebels of the 1857 rebellion led by Nana Sahib. Kanpur cantonment was seiged by the rebels and the Britishers were guaranteed…

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 38 Sleep was intermittent. Not because of where I was, or because of the place where I was, or the weather, nothing of the sort. I woke up a couple of times in the night, twice to pee, something that I almost never do. Even the brick that acted…

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 37 Today started almost at 6 o’clock and like yesterday, I had pretty much the whole village surrounding my cot waiting for me to wake up. I wanted to hit the water by 7 latest but the hosts insisting that they would either give me breakfast or pack lunch…

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 36 There was no way I could refuse the offer of being guided around Kannauj, particularly after the warm hospitality I received from the Sarpanch and her family, but from the entire village. The village teacher was summoned with his Renault Kwid, and three of us made our way…

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 35 Willie Nelson sang “Back on the road again”. And I want to sing “Back on the river again”. I am remembering Willie Nelson after taking a break from A Slow Boat Down the Ganges, after allowing the wrist to heal, and after attending the first Base Camp Festival…

Slow Boat Down the Ganges Update 34 A SLOW BOAT DOWN THE GANGES is about raising awareness about pollution in the river. I have been trying to associate with an organisation that manufactures portable water testing equipment. In vain. I have had no success. Moreover, since I am no scientist, I was looking for an…