Next Up: Maha Kumbh Mela

Shortly after Marty and I returned from Indonesia he called to suggest that we go to India to be part of the Kumbh Mela in the city of Allahabad. The event is certainly the world's largest religious gathering and many say it's the world's largest human gathering as well. Google Kumbh Mela 2013. You will be astonished. I'll leave the history and photos to Google, except for this - a Kumbh Mela happens only once every twelve years and a Maha Kumbh Mela, which this year's is, only happens once every 144 years. We figure we go this year, or never. I leave on Wednesday, February 13th. I'll visit the holy city of Varanasi on my own. Marty is in China. He'll come down from there and meet me in Varanasi. We'll travel to Allahabad together.

Last time we were in India we left about a week before the 2008 Mumbai massacres - the series of horrible bombings and terrorist attacks across that city. One result of that is vastly more complicated visa requirements to travel in India. Done to stop potential terrorists from entering the country, I assume. I spent a total of seven hours jumping through all the required hoops, including going back for another photo, but without glasses. That second photo was so awful (the first wasn't much better) that I'm sure they figured a guy that old and sickly looking can't possibly create any problems. I got my visa.