A Passage to Varanasi

I didn't know Mark Twain travelled so much in the Far East during his time.

But this was one of the most famous lines he uttered  during his out of town lectures to the holiest city in India (Hindu's Mecca):

"Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".

Two months of preparation,

Now i'm off to one of the most coveted vacations of all time.

After budget airline reservations amounting to only PhP30,000
     (airlines from manila to kuala lumpur and kuala lumpur to new delhi)

Seven travel books about India, New Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, and Kuala Lumpur
     (thanks to Nat Geo,Frommers and Lonely Planet),

Not to mention google's help about the abovementioned cities...

Three train resevations via internet
     (New Delhi-Agra, Agra-Varanasi, Varanasi- New Delhi) Thanks to Cleartrip!

Five hotel bookings from Agoda
     (KL, Agra, Varanasi, New Delhi and KL again)

One tour guide booking for varanasi
     (An Indian named Ajit-thanks to Frommer's recommendation)

I am now off to my "eat pray love" adventure

Three days to go..

I hope everything will turn out fine.

Thanks to Gibbs Cadiz' recommendations about India, "an assault to the senses!" in the optimistic point of view, of course.

Twelve hours in kuala lumpur

Ten hours in Agra

Two days in Varanasi

One day and a half in New Delhi

Not to mention the sleeper train adventures- its definitely the quintessential India!

Swagatam!