Looking for friends in Varanasi, april to june

justbronwyn · Jan 22nd, 2009, 20:33

Hello!

My name is Bronwyn, and I'm a student from Vancouver, BC. I now live in Quebec city where I'm at circus school. It's -35 here now, and I'm dreaming of being in India!

Last year, I came to India for the second time to do a social circus tour: performing in schools, orphanages, etc. Touring India with a circus group was a beautiful, crazy experience. I loved the love in the people we met, and can't wait to spend more time in Varanasi, my favourite city.

I'm coming back in April to volunteer at the Little Stars school in Nagwa neighbourhood, Varanasi. I'm going to be staying at a friend's guest house in Assi ghat. I would love to find some people who would like to meet up in Varanasi. I'm going alone, and am hoping to find friends to spend time with and maybe travel a bit within India. I will be mainly volunteering at the school (and want to do some yoga as well) but would love to get down to Khajuraho, maybe even visit Mumbai and Goa if I could.

I would so love to meet other travellers in Varanasi.
I hope to hear from you!

Darmabum · Jan 22nd, 2009, 20:45

Nice choice - as you know - of Varanasi. My favorite city in India too. I have two six-month stays there, stayed both times in the Asi area, the latest from February - August in 2006. I stayed at the Tiwari Lodge, right across from the Haifa. Great people at the Tiwari, both the owners and the lodgers. Many of the lodgers are long term, studying music, Sanskrit, yoga, etc. That's a good place to meet people. Good concerts on the roof at night during the season. Look for Francisco, a great Italian shehnai player, and Leelji, a fellow Canadian, knows the yoga scene very well. Enjoy your time there. Magic place.

inviaggio · Jan 22nd, 2009, 23:58

Hello! I'm from Italy and I'm will be in Banaras from februry to the end of april, and then coming back in july. When will you arrive in april? i will be there almost till the endof the month. I'm going to Banaras with a scholarship for a research project on the mythology of Shiva in the main temples in the city. I'm also alone and I will be happy to meet some friends to spend time together. I will be staying form february in a family guest house near Munshi ghat (near dashasvamedh ghat) because I know them and it is a good place where you can also use kitchen, but probably i will be moving to assi, because it seems to be a popular place!
and you, dharmabum, are you coming back to Banaras?!
i will be also doing some volounteer work at bal ashram (anjali ong). i hope to meet you!

Darmabum · Jan 23rd, 2009, 00:59

inviaggio, alas, no City of Light for me, at least in the foreseeable future. But I am "in" Varanasi every day . . . in my head . . . on-screen, working with my film that I shot in Varanasi last time . . . working on my book trailer, my Varanasi book (mostly Varanasi) that I finally finished last year . . . and in doing my daily yoga to the sweet sounds of my bansuri guru, who I took into the studio on my last trip. I'm jealous, but mostly happy for both of you . . . months and months in Varanasi

justbronwyn · Jan 23rd, 2009, 03:50

Thank you Darmabum for your kind wishes! I am sure that this trip will be as wonderful as the last, Mother India cradling me in the peace that exists within all of those bells, chants, sunrises over the river's edge, enormous memories contained within tiny bells on women's ankles...I just can't wait.

Inviaggio, I'd love to meet you in Varanasi! I'll be staying at Ashish Cafe (cafe/guesthouse) at Assi ghat, where I'll be lucky to use the kitchen myself! I'm just hoping to meet people to spend time with while I'm there. I'm coming very early april, maybe the 1st or 2nd, and so will definitely overlap your stay. I'll be really happy to hear about Bal Ashram, as I visited there last time and was pretty impressed. I look forward to meeting you!

inviaggio · Jan 27th, 2009, 23:26

i will check ashish cafe when i will be there...i'm not so sure about my place...thanks
i will inform you about bal ashram as soon as possible!
see you there!!

justbronwyn · Apr 5th, 2009, 12:01

Hello to anyone and everyone!
I'm here in Varanasi and loving life. It's so good here. If anyone else is here right now, I would love to meet you! Inviaggio, are you here? Let's meet up!

klam · Apr 5th, 2009, 16:14

From this thread, i see Varanasi will be an interesting experience. I am traveling through India in May and Varanasi is on the itinerary, would love to meet up as i will be traveling solo. I was only planning to stay 2 days max, but am wondering if that's way to short. Let me know your thoughts. Looking forward to hearing from you.

justbronwyn · Apr 7th, 2009, 16:31

Hey Klam!
I will still be in Varanasi in May (I think I'll be in Varanasi until I go back to Canada) and would love to meet up. Varanasi is a beautiful and rich place, and I have found that most travellers find it to be a magnet: they try to leave and visit other places, but can't seem to get out of Varanasi because it is so interesting. If I were you, I would stay longer...in Varanasi, 3 or 4 days is already a very short visit.
See you soon!

Darmabum · Apr 7th, 2009, 17:39

bronwyn, just wanted to share how delighted I am that you are (more than) enjoying yourself in Varanasi. I have tried very hard to communicate to friends what I find so fascinating there, they see my pictures, hear my stories, but somehow I can't seem to communicate to them "what is is" that draws me, holds me there (and last year I completed a 130,000 word book, almost all of it taking place in Varanasi) . . . if you have time, and a good internet connection, check out a video I shot from Tulsi Ghat (one ghat north of Asi). Search Youtube for "Sun Standing Still: A Memoir of the Imagination."

Enjoy.

klam · Apr 10th, 2009, 21:43

Nice! Justbronwyn, ill look u up when i am in town. Looks like i will be there the 1st few days of June now = Crazy hot! You may be wishing that its -35 again =)

I will keep in mind 3 days is a short visit. Cheers, Klam

kellyb · Apr 16th, 2009, 14:44

Hello there ,

I'm currenty in Thia land travelling with a friend but she 's leaving for england 20th april but i will be in Mumbia 20th
April and have 2 weeks to kill before i meet up with my boyfriend in Mumbia 2nd may i'm unsure what to do or where to go in those 2 weeks any suggestions ???
and how did you get into volunteering at the school ,what is it your doing there ,and is there any cost involved .Reason i ask is that i would quite like to do sme volunteer work wondered if that would be possible we could meet up .

any suggestions would be good really as i have no plans

justbronwyn · Apr 26th, 2009, 15:10

Hello Kellyb,
I would naturally suggest coming to Varanasi because it's a very interesting ang beautiful place, but it's very hot right now. If you do come, post again, and I will meet you there! Volunteering at the school I volunteer at is free, of course...it's amazing, and I would encourage anyone to come and visit.
hope to hear from you!
bronwyn

Loobs · May 1st, 2009, 21:59

I'm planning to be in Varanasi 4th week of May for a day or two... It'd be great to meet up with someone who knows their way around! Great to hear you're enjoying it there!

I spent some time in Canada a few years ago and loved it - lucky you living in Quebec City! I thought it was beautiful.

justbronwyn · May 1st, 2009, 22:43

Hello Loobs!
Yes, quebec is definitely beautiful...a little quiet for my taste though. I'm happy to be in Varanasi. I would love to show you around when you are here. It will be very hot, so be prepared! I stay in an area called Assi Ghat, this is a good place to stay/hang out as there are many hotels and restaurants. I live at a place called Ashish Cafe, you can ask anyone and they will be able to tell you where it is. Aleternatively, private message me a phone number if you like! Are you coming by plane?
take care!
bronwyn

Jan 22nd, 2009, 20:33	#1
justbronwyn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quebec city, QC, Canada Posts: 22	Looking for friends in Varanasi, april to june Hello! My name is Bronwyn, and I'm a student from Vancouver, BC. I now live in Quebec city where I'm at circus school. It's -35 here now, and I'm dreaming of being in India! Last year, I came to India for the second time to do a social circus tour: performing in schools, orphanages, etc. Touring India with a circus group was a beautiful, crazy experience. I loved the love in the people we met, and can't wait to spend more time in Varanasi, my favourite city. I'm coming back in April to volunteer at the Little Stars school in Nagwa neighbourhood, Varanasi. I'm going to be staying at a friend's guest house in Assi ghat. I would love to find some people who would like to meet up in Varanasi. I'm going alone, and am hoping to find friends to spend time with and maybe travel a bit within India. I will be mainly volunteering at the school (and want to do some yoga as well) but would love to get down to Khajuraho, maybe even visit Mumbai and Goa if I could. I would so love to meet other travellers in Varanasi. I hope to hear from you!

Jan 22nd, 2009, 20:45	#2
Darmabum On the Road, wherever I am Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho . . . now the red-rock plateau of southern Utah Posts: 1,110	Nice choice - as you know - of Varanasi. My favorite city in India too. I have two six-month stays there, stayed both times in the Asi area, the latest from February - August in 2006. I stayed at the Tiwari Lodge, right across from the Haifa. Great people at the Tiwari, both the owners and the lodgers. Many of the lodgers are long term, studying music, Sanskrit, yoga, etc. That's a good place to meet people. Good concerts on the roof at night during the season. Look for Francisco, a great Italian shehnai player, and Leelji, a fellow Canadian, knows the yoga scene very well. Enjoy your time there. Magic place. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

Apr 5th, 2009, 16:14	#8
klam Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 6	In Varanasi in mid may From this thread, i see Varanasi will be an interesting experience. I am traveling through India in May and Varanasi is on the itinerary, would love to meet up as i will be traveling solo. I was only planning to stay 2 days max, but am wondering if that's way to short. Let me know your thoughts. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Apr 10th, 2009, 21:43	#11
klam Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 6	excited to see Varanasi... Nice! Justbronwyn, ill look u up when i am in town. Looks like i will be there the 1st few days of June now = Crazy hot! You may be wishing that its -35 again =) I will keep in mind 3 days is a short visit. Cheers, Klam

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Jan 22nd, 2009, 23:58	#3
inviaggio in beetween Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: italy Posts: 13	Hello! I'm from Italy and I'm will be in Banaras from februry to the end of april, and then coming back in july. When will you arrive in april? i will be there almost till the endof the month. I'm going to Banaras with a scholarship for a research project on the mythology of Shiva in the main temples in the city. I'm also alone and I will be happy to meet some friends to spend time together. I will be staying form february in a family guest house near Munshi ghat (near dashasvamedh ghat) because I know them and it is a good place where you can also use kitchen, but probably i will be moving to assi, because it seems to be a popular place! and you, dharmabum, are you coming back to Banaras?! i will be also doing some volounteer work at bal ashram (anjali ong). i hope to meet you!

Jan 23rd, 2009, 00:59	#4
Darmabum On the Road, wherever I am Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho . . . now the red-rock plateau of southern Utah Posts: 1,110	inviaggio, alas, no City of Light for me, at least in the foreseeable future. But I am "in" Varanasi every day . . . in my head . . . on-screen, working with my film that I shot in Varanasi last time . . . working on my book trailer, my Varanasi book (mostly Varanasi) that I finally finished last year . . . and in doing my daily yoga to the sweet sounds of my bansuri guru, who I took into the studio on my last trip. I'm jealous, but mostly happy for both of you . . . months and months in Varanasi

Jan 23rd, 2009, 03:50	#5
justbronwyn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quebec city, QC, Canada Posts: 22	Thank you Darmabum for your kind wishes! I am sure that this trip will be as wonderful as the last, Mother India cradling me in the peace that exists within all of those bells, chants, sunrises over the river's edge, enormous memories contained within tiny bells on women's ankles...I just can't wait. Inviaggio, I'd love to meet you in Varanasi! I'll be staying at Ashish Cafe (cafe/guesthouse) at Assi ghat, where I'll be lucky to use the kitchen myself! I'm just hoping to meet people to spend time with while I'm there. I'm coming very early april, maybe the 1st or 2nd, and so will definitely overlap your stay. I'll be really happy to hear about Bal Ashram, as I visited there last time and was pretty impressed. I look forward to meeting you!

Jan 27th, 2009, 23:26	#6
inviaggio in beetween Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: italy Posts: 13	i will check ashish cafe when i will be there...i'm not so sure about my place...thanks i will inform you about bal ashram as soon as possible! see you there!!

Apr 5th, 2009, 12:01	#7
justbronwyn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quebec city, QC, Canada Posts: 22	Hello to anyone and everyone! I'm here in Varanasi and loving life. It's so good here. If anyone else is here right now, I would love to meet you! Inviaggio, are you here? Let's meet up!

Apr 7th, 2009, 16:31	#9
justbronwyn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quebec city, QC, Canada Posts: 22	Hey Klam! I will still be in Varanasi in May (I think I'll be in Varanasi until I go back to Canada) and would love to meet up. Varanasi is a beautiful and rich place, and I have found that most travellers find it to be a magnet: they try to leave and visit other places, but can't seem to get out of Varanasi because it is so interesting. If I were you, I would stay longer...in Varanasi, 3 or 4 days is already a very short visit. See you soon!

Apr 7th, 2009, 17:39	#10
Darmabum On the Road, wherever I am Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho . . . now the red-rock plateau of southern Utah Posts: 1,110	bronwyn, just wanted to share how delighted I am that you are (more than) enjoying yourself in Varanasi. I have tried very hard to communicate to friends what I find so fascinating there, they see my pictures, hear my stories, but somehow I can't seem to communicate to them "what is is" that draws me, holds me there (and last year I completed a 130,000 word book, almost all of it taking place in Varanasi) . . . if you have time, and a good internet connection, check out a video I shot from Tulsi Ghat (one ghat north of Asi). Search Youtube for "Sun Standing Still: A Memoir of the Imagination." Enjoy.

Apr 16th, 2009, 14:44	#12
kellyb Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bolton Posts: 5	Hello there , I'm currenty in Thia land travelling with a friend but she 's leaving for england 20th april but i will be in Mumbia 20th April and have 2 weeks to kill before i meet up with my boyfriend in Mumbia 2nd may i'm unsure what to do or where to go in those 2 weeks any suggestions ??? and how did you get into volunteering at the school ,what is it your doing there ,and is there any cost involved .Reason i ask is that i would quite like to do sme volunteer work wondered if that would be possible we could meet up . any suggestions would be good really as i have no plans

Apr 26th, 2009, 15:10	#13
justbronwyn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quebec city, QC, Canada Posts: 22	Hello Kellyb, I would naturally suggest coming to Varanasi because it's a very interesting ang beautiful place, but it's very hot right now. If you do come, post again, and I will meet you there! Volunteering at the school I volunteer at is free, of course...it's amazing, and I would encourage anyone to come and visit. hope to hear from you! bronwyn

May 1st, 2009, 21:59	#14
Loobs Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 7	I'm planning to be in Varanasi 4th week of May for a day or two... It'd be great to meet up with someone who knows their way around! Great to hear you're enjoying it there! I spent some time in Canada a few years ago and loved it - lucky you living in Quebec City! I thought it was beautiful.

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May 1st, 2009, 22:43	#15
justbronwyn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quebec city, QC, Canada Posts: 22	Hello Loobs! Yes, quebec is definitely beautiful...a little quiet for my taste though. I'm happy to be in Varanasi. I would love to show you around when you are here. It will be very hot, so be prepared! I stay in an area called Assi Ghat, this is a good place to stay/hang out as there are many hotels and restaurants. I live at a place called Ashish Cafe, you can ask anyone and they will be able to tell you where it is. Aleternatively, private message me a phone number if you like! Are you coming by plane? take care! bronwyn