Harmony Hotel Kullu

... our stuff down and chill out for a bit. Traveling is actually a pain in the ****...

Delhi was full on. A bit too in your face and with so many people constantly asking you questions or trying to jip you, your guard is constantly up, which is a shame as there are genuinely friendly people that just want to chat, or help.

Up here is great. Its full of Tibetan people, buddhist monks and other travellers. Our balcony ...

... us up into the clouds and the cool spray from the falls was really refreshing. we drank piping hot masala tea in the mist before heading back down the hill for a rest!

a long walk to the holy dal lake later that day was a tad disappointing. there was no water in it.

as a footnote, i think i should just describe our introduction to this most peaceful of places:
dropped at the hotel (which looked a little dingy) by our drivers, we proceeded to ...

... people choose, is to pay the equivelant of 100 USD and hike for 15 days or more through the high himalayas. Many people die, lose fingers or eyes due to the cold. Even crossing into Nepal, they risk the chance of getting sent to jail by Chinese soldiers, or worse, shot - as happenned a couple years ago in Nambal (sp?). According to Kunchok, there is a documentary on the occurence.

For the past 8 years, Kunchok has lived ...

... Apparently he was assaulted by bandits who he somehow talked into giving back his stuff and then giving him a place to stay for the night. These were pretty tall tales but he was a really calm and well-spoken guy and we ended up talking to him for a few hours. In an example of spontaneous, chaotic order we would happen to run into him again in a couple of days on a deserted path walking up a mountain.

In our first few days here, Sarah got very sick (the suspected ...

... that is your only other opportunity to meet them. Barbara and I managed to find our seats quite easily and at first we thought we were lucky because the train was pretty empty but after a few stops the masses came in. We were surrounded by men. They were all very nice and chatty, no uncomfortableness or anything. It was quite funny at one point because I was reading the Lonely Planet out loud to Barbara and the man next to me asks for it then ...

... live of their animals, sheep, goats, etc. He had moved to Lhasa to make money, but had to flee because of prosecution. He fled by foot over through Nepal and made his way to McLeod Ganj. Here he has been studying Buddhist philosophy and teaching, while working at the coffee shop. He told me all about his family, his friends who are now in prison, his beliefs, and his views on the world. It was very interesting! Yesterday, I spend more time at the temple ...

We took a winding 8 hour bus ride to Kullu. The couple from the train were there and were fabulously ill for much of the journey, taking turns vomiting out the window. Unfortunately no photos. I was still battling Delhi Belly, but managed to keep it together, thanks to large quantities of immodium. A long and painful journey which Lloyd assures me was actually pretty mild by Indian standards. We ...

... on hard wooded benches and waited and eventually about 6 we left. It was pretty cold and one yound guy offered to share his blanket with Bradley, who gratefully accepted. Both Pete and Brad were suffering from pretty heavy colds and sore throats (but are now almost better). By 7am it was light enough to see the beautiful countryside that we were passing through. This is a narrow gague train and winds up through the mountains through Kangra to Palampur and a few stations beyond ...

... knowledge of physical sciences and technology, Tibetan Buddhists were advancing the inner workings of the mind (metaphysics) and writing all findings down. (Neurosurgeons now work with the Dali Lama and other Tibetans to understand how thoughts affect the body and mind). Anyway, most of the texts were destroyed by the Chinese. The Tibetans that successfully fled Tibet for McLeod Ganj are in amazingly high spirits. The goal of Tibetans is to get their country back ...

... for about 3 months a year. At the moment it's just the beginning of the tourist season as the roads have only just opened but in a few weeks time it will be a lot busier with plenty of tourists to fill up all the cosy guesthouses and excellent restaurants. We celebrated Martin's birthday in style.. firstly we had rum as an aperitif in our room overlooking the mountains, then we went out for a lovely Indian meal - tandoori chicken etc ...