Tibetan Ashoka Guest House McLeod Ganj

we have been eating more and more momo's (we're getting addicted!) and we're actually learning how to cook them this afternoon! We've been on treks up the local mountains - past waterfalls and very small farming villages.. haven't met the Dalai Lama yet, but I'm sure he's got more important appointments to keep!!<br><br>We will upload photo's soon I promise! and try to add a bit more info!

... photo onto this blog so they can see themselves on the internet. They've been really good fun to work with. Next week I get a new group of students and I am staying until they finish the course at the end of the month.<br><br>If you want to read more about the voluntary work I'm doing, visit www.lhasocialwork.org which explains more about the organisation.<br><br>That's it for now, hopefully I can upload some pictures so you can see what I've been doing!<br>

... although it should quieten down a bit after weekend. I'm hoping to move guesthouse then as I've been in one place for 9 days now (a record!!!) and apparently I should be able to get something a bit cheaper.<br><br>Had my 1st bought of Delhi Belly last weekend, which 70% of people get in the 1st 2 weeks, so hopefully that's boosted my immune system now!<br> <br>The food here is a wonderful mix of Indian, Chinese &amp; Tibetan, mostly vegetarian- thankfully I'm doimg ...

Last night we took part in a candle light march for Tibetans. It was the 22nd anniversary of the first protest against China's invasion of Tibet. We started at the top of McLeod Ganj and walked down to the Dalai Lama's residence (although he's currently out of the country).<br><br>We were then showed a video which showed the situation in Burma. It was very very moving and I challenge anyone to watch it, not to feel a great ...

... a mountain overlook called Treund (about 3,000 M. I think).<br><br> <br><br>In case you are wondering what hiking in a cloud forest is like, imagine hiking inside of a cloud (like this) <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> with every 15 minutes or so the world opening up to reveal dizzying steep slopes covered in lush green (like this). <br><br> <br><br><br><br ...

... this is loving life and having fun and we can't wait to see you soon and tell you more about all of our experiences here in the East, incredible India. namaste, Andrew, Justin, Natalie, Jonathan &amp; Shayna We have been so lucky to have an amazing place to stay; a cottage home that once belonged to a British Commander back in the British Rule. It looks out over the main town of Dharamsala and the valleys and hills below us. We have watched the sunrise and sunset from ...

... on this strip as long as we can until finally it's a walk the last 2km in pitch dark. I'm worried because we should see glowing parachute tents, but they're around a corner, and there's no electricity anyway, so limited lighting. Another truck-stop dinner, and scoping out an area for our tent which is not part of the great open toilet,and another night camping on the fine dust which covers this area. Yes, the terrain is phenomenally, spectacularly beautiful, but ...

... temple we climbed up to was half and half. If only all religions could co-exist as well as these do in Kinnaur. In the morning we drove further up the valley to a place called Chitkul. En route, there was a very small car from Delhi stuck fording a stream (this is definitely jeep country). Our attempt to push it out failed, so Lama attached a rope from our jeep and pulled them out. During our walkabout of Chitkul village, we saw 3 men carrying a live goat into a temple yard. They told ...

... footing. The stream didn't feel as powerful as it looked. We crossed and had a good laugh at our hour and a half of preparation for this seemingly trivial task. Oh well. Better safe than sorry. We arrived at Mudh and checked into Tara's Guest House - one of several in town. The room overlooked the barley, potato and pea fields and was a great spot from which to watch the sunrise the next morning. We bought our ...

... after tonight... The man at the travel place recommended that we use one of their guides and take a nice hike down to Chadwick Falls. We decided that 200 rupees (a little over four dollars) was well worth it to the guide and started off. He did fail to tell us that it would be a 3 hour long straight downhill then straight back uphill hike. We really weren't prepared for that, Dave even had on his Rainbows! Once we started there was no turning back so we just ...