Landing in Varanasi

After a very long stay in Dubai airport I took my another flight to New Delhi, arrived there in the night and searched for a hotel. I was asking some one at the information counter where some cheaper hotel is, he looked at me, then at his small room (hotel information counter) and asked me whether I would be satisfied staying one night there on the ground. I was too tired to agree so I just smiled and asked for a "real" place to sleep. :-)

He gave me some options and I tooked the most convenient one and left with a prepaid auto (auto rikshaw). The hotel was situated in a very dark part of Delhi. I left my luggage in the room (with warm water) and went out for a tea. It was about 10pm and everybody I met was quite astonished to see a girl walking down the street without anyone accompanying her. I woke up very early the next morning and left for the domestic airport. I landed in Varanasi 12.30 pm. It was sunny and hot day, two nice students were waiting for me. They took me by a rented cab to the Banaras Hindu University. We walked through the fields, the entire city, entered the BHU through its famous main gate. Immediately after I had met Dr. Natarajan, my boss, my guides took me to the place I was supposed to stay for the next three months with my colleague Nicole Kreuzer from Switzerland who was hired for the same position as I was. I met her later. I just wanted to get rid off my  heavy luggage first and take a bath after that long trip.

The house looked wonderful from outside. My first impression was clouded up by entering the room I shared with my colleague. It was an empty place furnished with two recently bought beds and two chairs. I was not worried though because I knew that I could get used to anything. I was just very surprised because I was told I would be staying in a university guest house. I assumed it was only an interim option :-)