Hotel Shikhar Dharamsala

... et certains insistent vraiment, d’autres essayent de vous vendre des foulards, des fruits, des noix, des chauffeurs de taxi veulent vous amener je ne sais où…il faut donc d’armer avant d’aller dans la rue. Bref, nous montons sur ce bus et faisons 4h de route à la place de 3h. Sur notre trajet, nous voyons un accident tragique impliquant un camion et une voiture de mariage. Le camion leur a foncé droit ...

... Chinese Dim Sum, and for those of you who know my passion for Dim Sum, you can understand why this was a little bit of heaven. For 5 rupees (10 cents) you can purchase a steamed or fried momo (most veg) right off the street. At any moment should a bite of hunger get me, momos are there to the rescue!!! yum. <br><br>Of course besides the Tibetan snacks there is quite a bit of Tibetan history there too. It is the center of the ...

... in India. Today I went to the museum to learn more about Tibetan history and while I was there got an exciting tip. His Highness would be leaving shortly for a trip to the United States and if I went to the street, I could catch a glimpse of him leaving. I joined a row of reverent followers and waited for him to drive by. When he did, he was as smiling and cheerful waving to the crowd. What a thrill!

... someone came up and took it and I saw the same old man who had given it to me shaking his head in disappointment, clearly I had missed something. I left the temple and he chased me down and said you must eat you must eat! He shoved the leaf back into my hands and I quickly did as he said, I later found out that is how you get the blessing, who knew! And the goo was pretty tasty. My group and I then rushed off to the India/Pakistan border ...

... and pure. Surrounding Bhatsu are mini Chai cafes along the stream. We drank hot Chai and just listened to the water passing by. It was such an amazing experience. A true moment of aesthetic arrest. I was is complete AW. After Bhatsu we walked back to McLoudGanj and met all the other volunteers for dinner at this night club called "Xcite! " The restaurant served reallly good Tibetan food and none of us got sick! After dinner we danced and since it ...

... give off, she's beautiful but wise, incredibly gentle but firm. Under her hands I both disappeared and was infinantly present to every sense of my body. If you ever need a massage come to India and find her. I might even go back one more time tomorrow before I leave. Cost is 700rs for around 2 hrs. That's less than $20! <br><br>And oh yeah! The amazing Chocolate Balls at the street baker's! <br><br>VIDEO: On May 13th I ...

Dharamsala, as many know, is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile. This is one of the major receiving areas for newly-arrived Tibetan refugees and there are plenty of volunteer opportunities to help out with the refugee community. I've been hanging out with a British traveler, Tom, and for the last couple of days we've helped out with one of the English teaching programs here. When a young Tibetan man handed us a flyer seeking volunteers ...

... singed up to it. What's most amazing is that most of the Tibetans here have no anger or bitterness towards the Chinese and pray for those effected by the earthquake that occurred a few weeks back. They really are admirable people. Yesterday i was told off because i tried to kill a mosquito.... you should never inflict pain on any living creature. I tied to explain that it was inflicting pain on me and they responded by saying that i can make choices ...

An excerpt from last night's journal entry: Night ride down the mountain on the back of a bike- Raja telling me about relationships with girls, about life in dharamsala. We drive past indian markets- the night, cool, pulling down my skirt when it gets caught through our movements in changing air- cool spots, warm spots, depending on how many trees we pass through... indian shops, in dim light, strange spices for kormas and ...

... it is not much bigger than a dining table, and inside it there is ........... a dining table, surrounded by benches, a chai-wallah, a gas stove, fridge and a cabinet full of "German" pastries. It's rather a sociable teashop because you just go and sit down regardless of other people there and all types of people - locals and tourists appear to go there. The first time we went in there (there first of many times I should say!) we met a nice English couple and stayed ...