This Place Has Really Gone To The (Western) Dogs..
Trip Start
May 02, 2006
1
69
113
Trip End
Mar 02, 2007
McLeod Ganj,
India
Monday, October 16, 2006
McLeod Ganj is the headquarters of the Tibetan Governemt in Exile and residence of his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as being a major travellers hangout.
I last visited McLeod Ganj in '96 and really enjoyed my time there with my mate Vasko. And it was with these fond memories that I recommended to Kat that we revisit the (quote) 'peaceful little town perched high upon the hills'.
Then -
Smiling Tibetan monks wandering the quiet little streets, yummy momo's being devoured daily, virtually no souvenir shops and the subsequent tourists. Just a peaceful and quiet place to hang out for a few days before facing the Indian onslaught again.
Now -
Boy, what a disappointment! It's turned into a real tourist trap with every second store selling some sort of fake Tibetan garbage, Internet shops, yoga and meditation centres and a variety of other new age bullshit that's there to entertain the visiting western tourists. I couldn't wait get out the place. In place of the smiling Tibetan monks, it's rammed with westerners who've been in India too long walking around in stupid hippy clothes with dirty hair (go home, your parents miss you) and speeding motorbikes and auto-rickshaws everywhere.
When we saw the sign advertising astrological horoscopes 'by computer' we packed our bags. What a dump. We went to visit His Holiness and file a complaint but he was otherwise occupied. Good on you Lama, you've let your new home town turn into a Buddhist Disneyland for lost western souls. Here's a news flash mate, we won't be coming back so best you free Tibet quick smart.
Give this place a wide berth.
Next Pod - Shimla, India.
Love,
Nath and Kat.
