13 Oct Attempting the impossible in Varanasi, India – From my travel journal during our our 16 flight, 5 week journey throughout Asia, Capturing Grace.

Tucked behind a wall to prevent myself from being blasted by water, I watched and then photographed this little boy covered in mud attempting to clear the steps of a Ghat from it’s mud.

Out of my respect for this young mans work, I desperately wanted to connect, to enter into his world even for the briefest of moments. I stuck out my hand and his eyes became so large and beautiful as he allowed this brief connection, clasping my hand as well. I could feel the oozy clay-like mud squish between our desire to connect and then our mutual, brief grip, relaxed, I thanked him for the moment. My hand went back to my camera and I shot a photo of my friend Pramod shaking the young boys hand as well. Yes, some of the Ganges river mud became attached to my camera, I hope that somehow, a little bit of the mud and memory lingers. and remains.

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel – leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks – on your body or on your heart – are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.”
– Anthony Bourdain