No boat thank you !!!!

In a place so reliant on tourists not only from India but all over the world, being alone here is difficult. A quiet stroll along the side of the Ganges is peppered with people wanting you to take a boat, practice their English or throw them back their cricket ball back !!!! But it's so amazing to see life in such a holy place. Yesterday I visited the sacred burning ghat where the main cremations are held.  Tons of wood are piled high, ready to be used and bodies are lined up with their grieving companions and it truly is a sight, as we are so removed from death.  Walking along the streets here you are often passed by families taking their deceased relative to this site and often they have traveled for hours to get here.  Just to give the opposite to this there are so many new born puppies and goats wandering around the streets.  I read in the paper this morning that a co-operative  of boat men are supporting the stray animals here in town, so it's nice to see the supporting spirit is alive and well.  In india it is so difficult to turn away from the deserving as where ever you look people are living on the streets, have incredible illnesses to deal with and have nothing.  The debate continues as to whether or not you should give directly or donate, if you so wish, to a local charity. I have given money to a few people, but only when there is no one around as in previous experience if you give in a crowd you are swarmed!!!