I have found a treasure here. Something that enables me to travel far far away anytime I like. In the Swedish study center here I found a copy of “The hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy” by Douglas Adams. One of my favorite books hands down and the sentences always makes me laugh, no matter how many times I read them. Due to my tremendous discovery I will post one of the great episodes in the beginning of the book. This is taking place when a man called Arthur Dent is about to get his house destroyed due to the building of a highway and he is having a quarrel with the representative from the local authority. Arthur is reciting the trouble he had to go through to find the plans for the highway:
Arthur: ” …You hadn’t exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them had you? I mean like actually telling anyone or anything.’
Mr. Prosser: ‘ But the plans were on display…’
‘ On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.’
`That’s the display department.’
`With a torch.’
`Ah, well the lights had probably gone.’
`So had the stairs.’
`But look you found the notice didn’t you?’
 `Yes,’ said Arthur, `yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying “Beware of The Leopard”.’

— Douglas Adams.

If one were to write a hitchhiker’s  guide to Banaras you would think it would be similar to the glorified picture of India. Smiling people everywhere, the fresh smell of all kinds of spices, beautiful colors and a cute cow every now and then – Banaras is nothing like that! There sure are people everywhere, and many of them are lovely, but that is ruined due to the crazy traffic. If you don’t want to get overrun you have to be aware all the time. The constant honking of horns doesn’t make it easier. Even if you can feel the smell of delicious food it is often mixed by the smells of garbage and cow droppings. There really are cows everywhere here, even in the most narrow alleys. They don’t do anything to you but there is droppings everywhere and I feel sorry for the animals cause they eat whatever they can find, often the trash on the streets. Now it sounds like Banaras is an awful place which it isn’t. The people I have gotten to know so far are absolutely lovely. It is a very special city with its own beauty and I can understand why some people absolutely love India, I am just saying that I understand the ones who disagree too. I guess I just will try to adapt or as Mr. Adams would have advised – bring your own towel and Don’t panic.