Hotel Asian Plaza Dharamsala

... but....)<br>Found a fab shop selling handmade journals exactly what I had been looking for, had some food, did some internetting and went back to the hotel. Mcleod Ganj closes really early so after 8/9 o' clock not a lot to do. Plus it's a bit chilly.<br>Several layers later and a nice thick duvet I settled in bed and read.<br><br>Writing this on the 19th and just been back to the same cafe for breakfast! Another bonus this morning, really hot water ...

... and a center for the preservation of Tibetan Culture. We visited the temple and found that the Dali Lama had just left for the US. You will have a better chance of seeing him than I will. <br><br>After arriving in McLeod Ganj (elevation 6,000 feet) we drove even higher to our room, some 8 Km further up the ridge. We stayed at the Asia Health Resort. It sits at about 7,000 feet elevation.<br><br>

... at a restaurant two doors down from the guest house. It was a Tibetan cuisine place and I ordered a tomato egg drop soup with some homemade Tibetan bread. The others ordered some chow mein. We got back to our guest house and I took an unpleasant cold shower and then just happily passed out on my comfy bed (much comfier than the YMCA...which at least had had hot water). This time I was in a room with Annina and Sara was in a room with Eyal.

... everyone was just holding their leaves so I continued to hold mine as well. I walked through the temple's three levels and found no where to give my offering. The goo kind of looked like food but I figured it would be a bad idea to eat it because that could probably be really offensive so just held it until it become apparent what I should do otherwise. It came time to leave the temple and I walked out still holding my leaf of goo ...

... in exile is located, and more refugees come even to this day. The town is actually a Tibetan town with only a few indian tourists. I think there were actually more westerners than Indians, and this is in the middle of India! I was lucky enough to be there for a festival put on by a local charity group that is aimed at helping the refugees. A nice quite place where most of the people have a common goal, well worth the long bus ride.

... The yoga has been kicking my ass but also prepares me for the 300 old stone steps I have to go up and then down every time I go to town or my hotel. Beyond obviously improving my strength and balance the yoga has helped me to develop some much needed confidence. I've done some things with my body in a short time that I did not know I could ever do. The yoga studio is conveniently placed on the top floor of the hotel. Hossi ...

... outskirts of town, when we came upon a group of monkeys. Monkeys are almost as common as cows in India, and for the most part have been friendly. Like squirrels in the US, they run off as approached, so we didn't think too much of continuing up the road. However this time, as we got closer these monkeys held there ground, blocking the path. As we stood in a standoff the monkeys began whooping and bearing their ...

... afternoon we meet with another 25 people to have conversation classes. They love us and call us Teacher Teacher all the time. Tibetan people are some of the nicest people i have ever met, to say they have had such hardship and have had to leave their motherland and familys they are the nicest, most compassionate, caring and genuine people i have ever met.... Helen says they are all just beautiful, inside and out! In discussions yesterday we asked them ...

... to the bus station got the bus with little fuss amazingly.... and felt more like we were on board ship. My God it was swaying from side to side and then up and down, bang bang bang, we met some nice Europeans, one couple the lady of whom was born in the same hospital as me in London...It certainly is a small world eh!! Anyway after a puncture, hair pin bends with nice big drops beside us ...

... Shree Guesthouse, which seemed like a much better deal. It was new (meaning the bathroom was clean and the plumbing worked), it was not in Lonely Planet (meaning it wasn't overpriced) and it was less than half the price of Green Hotel - oh and it was in a much quieter location too - further up the mountain in the midst of pine trees. So we moved. I don't know how much coverage the Tibetan cause has been receiving in the UK media, but here in Mcleod Ganj it's impossible ...