13-Last day in Varanasi.
Decide to save as much money as I can by going to the rail station and canceling my train tix.
In the foreigner's office, I am sitting next to a Frenchwoman and I could offer to translate for her, but I am having such a difficult time comprehending the indian's English, that it would probably be futile.
And futile, also will be this attempt to get any money back for these tickets.
Let's see.
In actual fact, even this experience shows me a side of India that I would never see otherwise.
Another woman walks in covered in mosquito bites. She must have stayed for the entire holi celebration down by the river.

Salamuddin, the rickshaw driver who takes me to the station, spells out the obvious, that is, that India has many problems. All his parents on both side are dead and heist support 12 people.
Might I help?
I have no real idea whether what he says is true, but I like him and determine to pay him extra. I give him about 20 times what the trip is worth, about $20. That is 1000 rupees, and there are drivers who will offer to take you anywhere for 5 rupees. He thanks me profusely.

It's a lot, and yet, a little,,,,,much like India itself.
Over the top in richness, and desperately poor.

Sitting by the pool, reading and writing prior to heading to the airport, and as I am wondering whether it might be worth a swim, two Brits jump quickly out of the water.
A snake.
That makes my decision easier.
The staff bring a net, the British guy goes into the pool and snags the snake, the pool attendant lifts it up and out and walks about ten feet and dumps the snake, seemingly alive and well, into the bushes.
The pool crowd looks on, rapt
Five minutes later, all is calm.

Before I left home, I tried my best to make travel plans, hotels, trains, etc. but not much worked out. I have had to change at every turn.
Now, the question is, do I arrive in Delhi without a hotel waiting for me?
How bad might it be?

In the cab to the airport, a guy we picked up turns and mentions that driving is difficult in India. I agree with him, with a laugh.
"Because we drive on the left" he says.
I say, rather, "people don't drive on the left here, or on the right either, but all over the road, wherever!"
He laughs and agrees.

Heading for Delhi on Spicejet Airlines.
The big news on TV is is the discovery of pilots of commercial planes cheating on their tests and being arrested.
Not so comforting.

Well, of course I'm sitting here watching a huge crowd board their flight and thinking it wasn't mine, when I heard, somehow, the word, "Spicejet".
Yes, I was the last one on.
That would have been bad.

One cannot survive a trip like this without a guardian angel, though mine is looking a little frayed at the wingtips.


Landed in Delhi.

Checked into hotel saptagiri, near the airport, and I have room 252.
Who'd have thunk?

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