Aroma Palace Chamba

... possible to walk past a shop without being asked to "just look madam", and it was a lot cooler than the India we had known up until then - we actually had to use duvets at nighttime! As for things to do, McLeod Ganj doesn't have many unless you are interested in yoga, meditation and the like. However, it is interesting to visit the Dalai Lama's official residence, which also includes an informative museum depicting the plight of ...

We decided to leave Amritsar and go up to Mcleod Gange, so we went to the bus station (we were told that there was a bus at 12.20) which was utter mayhem! The busses fill up with people before they've even got to the stop, people climbing through windows, all sorts. There were loads of western tourists trying to catch the bus, but unfortunately no-one knew which bus to get on, or ...

... of our local indian gude onboard grew ever more dubious when it became obvious he cannot read the roadsigns and is pretty much just the guy with the phone. when we eventually rocked up to shymla his local connections met us in a taxi and we wound our way through the narrow streets and down the most precipitous drops and turns ive experienced on raz before. our "campsite" turned out to be at the very bottom of a mountain down tracks where no truck can go so ...

... pleas such as 'Free Tibet'. Over the last couple of days, we have seen further effects of the events. All the tibetan shops and businesses in the town are shut -obviously a huge part of the town- as they all rally for their cause. There are approximately 40 people sitting carrying out a hunger strike-today is day 8, people are selling and carrying flags, monks are having their heads painted with the tibetan flag ...

... brought here by an adoption of Eastern beliefs, or simple curiosity and respect like myself. The smile took everyone in, and his hand raised in a blessing. Around me I heard an intake of breath as people became the focus of that smile. People sighed, laughed, and whispered excitedly after his smile passed over them. Suddenly that incandescent, mischievous grin was pointed in my direction and I understood why. It was a good smile. I don't have much use for celebrity. And ...

... mountain spirit, seen in large human form, tall and big with hair, all white. He has seen him several times and the villagers worship Banbir and make offerings. In the forest is Bhutpret, a wood spirit. The spirit can become tall and extend himself. His shadow will kill a man, so villagers are afraid to go into the forest. The Bhutpret has long hair like a bear. Nath Ram added, "in generic terms, there are many ...

... and one extra red bead representing Shiva, Bholay Bhaba. He also had pearls and rudrakshas, saying that the "beads appear to me" at times when he has advanced in his practice and is ready. The hermit used his hands extensively to emphasize to show to tell to explain. He saw the holy in nature. From the Bodnalla River, he found a river stone with metamorphic swirls of Chandi, turning it into a shila, a holy stone in his temple ...

... of Chanau, brought him to the cave, marking his back with blood of the sacrificed ram. After the initiation, he was able to channel Chanau to make predictions for the villagers and thereafter became a disciple. Roob Chand also marked his four sons, but only one will become the chosen oracle to succeed him. Once a year, Chand performs the ram sacrifice. The ram is chosen three years prior and treated well, with pujas in his honor ...

... of Mohammed who is the obeyer of the prophet (Nabi). His lineage, therefore, can be traced to the Prophet himself, with dozens of generations of peers, or holy men. The elder pir, meaning one who has supernatural powers, sat with me, talking in good English about the Koran, evolution, creation, and God. For years he prayed in a separate room, reading, praying, time, alone, praying...after a while you develop powers of a peer and "prayers...have some affection ...

... l tourism in the region, which will be p*rt of * sep*r*te, l*ter report. This first section explores six gener*l topics: the loc*l economy, self reli*nt households, emigr*tion *nd driving forces in community ch*nge, l*ndsc*pe ch*nge *nd loc*l resources, tr*nsport*tion, *nd historic*l settlement p*tterns in the P*dder V*lley. These topics will serve *s * fr*mework for the entire report, *s they *re the m*in (non spiritu*l) components of the hum*n ecology of the P*dder V*lley. Why ...