We walked to a section with markets and shops and we were recommended to go to the man made waterfall. I felt it would be uninteresting because it probably was just the size of a pee line. But it was only 10 minutes away and so we went and yes it turned out to be disappointing. The so called waterfall came out of a pipe line and it was just as I thought the size of a pee line.
On our way back we stopped by a crystal shop and I picked up an amethyst and it along with the rest of the crystals in the shop gave me a healing and helped to relieve pressure off my head and my left jaw.
We even looked out for Tibetan and Indian astrology, etc.. Most places require appointments but most places were closed so that even if we did come across something we would like to try we couldn't even make an appointment. Well, anyways, we didn't see anything we like.
Back in Mcloud Ganj we shopped some more. It was so cold at 4pm that we decided to stay in a restaurant to stay warm. We went into Jim's and Italian eatery. The place was decorated like Hard Rock Cafe or TGIF. The little heater they put right next to us wasn't really working. We ordered Italian food and it sucked. It wasn't very Italian, but then again it's India. It has been my experience that when the food goes bad, it is time to move onto the next destination.
Alan shared with us his story. He was engaged to be married to his fiance when he found out through text messaging that she had been having an affair with a neighbor. They were living together and both sets of parents were good friends. He was pretty shocked and decided to leave the country for 3 months. They had been together for 6 years. He just left his everything behind. His co-workers said they'll pick up the slack and cover his work so that he can have a job when he gets back. Those are some good co-workers. He didn't want to deal with any of the cancellation of the wedding or moving etc... He just left and left her to deal with it all. He wanted her to be out of their place by the time he returns. I really felt bad for Alan. I hope his heart heals from all this pain and I hope he has a great trip.
The sunset was beautiful. IT was fire red with clouds above and below the horizon. It was amazing visually.
The three of us decided to try the movie again. We were told Borat was the greatest film of the year etc... It was on the chart every night. So we thought we had entered to see Borat when what was shown on screen ended up being Children of Men. I didn't find it that great either. But the entire experience was worth bundles of laughter. I think the DVD disc was a pirated version. When the English subtitles came out it was gibberish. We all laughed like crazy through out the film. I was cold in the little cinema.
When I returned to our room, I packed for our 4am departure to Punjab to go to Amritsar. We packed in military speed. IT could be we were both tired. It could have been we were both cold. IT could have been we have been traveling and can pack fast and efficiently.
Showing posts with label Dharmsala. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dharmsala. Show all posts
Sun Bathing on a Rock
I woke up with diarrhea and needed more rest so I stayed in bed and skipped my recitations. In fact the entire day I had diarrhea.
We headed out for Dharmkot by foot. This path was quiet and surrounded by pine trees. I really enjoyed looking at them. IT didn't feel like I was in India, it felt like I was on a trial in California. The sky was blue and I enjoyed the walk very much.
We saw a man with his mule, goats and lambs on a feeding trail. I thought it was beautiful to document so I pulled out my camera and he turned his back on me. I put my camera away and showed him I didn't take a photo of him. He spoke and used his hands indicating that I needed to pay him to photograph him. It was weird and I walked away.
We came across an area that was layered like a cultivated terrace. It was beautifully lush with wild flowers. We both laid on a big rock and sun bathed. There was a nice and beautiful lady who waved at us as she aired out the blanket of her home. She was classically beautiful and had a perfect wife.
Carnivores Are Minorities
Here in Dharmsala the vegetarian diet is the norm. You have to actually ask if the place serves meat and it often required searching. It was cool for me. Usually it's the opposite. May be that is why even the air feels gentle here. May be that is why here it feels like the spirit of Tibet is alive even if everything else looks like India physically.
Inspired Into Insight
Linda wanted to go shopping at the Bazaar in town. We got onto a bus and headed down the mountain. We learned it's more like a place where locals go to buy vegetables etc... It was quite disappointing. We returned to Mcloud Ganj and did more tourist shopping for our friends and family. Linda and I take great delight in giving gifts to others.
I bought two cotton tops with floral Kashmiri pattern and colors. I bought 4 pairs of gloves knitted by Tibtan Refugees. All proceeds benefit the Tibetan Orphans in Dharmsala. I even found a Yak Yak Yak shirt.
During one of our excursions we accidentally strolled into a monastic residential complex. It was quite complex. We were a bit lost. If we hadden gotten lost we would not have had the opportunities to come across this place. It was nice to see so many Tibetan nuns. They looked happy, healthy and like nice nuns.
We did a lot more wondering around shops. I stopped by the internet for over an hour. Guri has been great in seting me up for Gujurat etc.... I hope it all works well.
Linda spent time along coloring in her mandala color book back in the room. It's always good to have alone time here and there. She later told me that she got answers while she worked on the colors that helped her to heal from the break from her recent relationship. It made her happy.
We met up at a nearby restaurant to be warm in the evening. Neither one of us were hungry. We just sat and drank tea.
Our conversations inspired some things for me, looking at future directions in life. That isolation is a self inflicted prison that stems out of fear and pain. That sometimes the jealousy and competitiveness among females comes from not trusting other females to begin with and this then evokes the jealous competitiveness because this sets up division and attack but in reality, people just want to be in relationship with one another but this initial subtle rejection and judgment is the culprit behind it all.
Then we returned to the room to rest and to do our own kind of meditation. I really admire Linda's ability to ground, focus, and center. It feels very comfortable to be in the same room with her.
I bought two cotton tops with floral Kashmiri pattern and colors. I bought 4 pairs of gloves knitted by Tibtan Refugees. All proceeds benefit the Tibetan Orphans in Dharmsala. I even found a Yak Yak Yak shirt.
During one of our excursions we accidentally strolled into a monastic residential complex. It was quite complex. We were a bit lost. If we hadden gotten lost we would not have had the opportunities to come across this place. It was nice to see so many Tibetan nuns. They looked happy, healthy and like nice nuns.
We did a lot more wondering around shops. I stopped by the internet for over an hour. Guri has been great in seting me up for Gujurat etc.... I hope it all works well.
Linda spent time along coloring in her mandala color book back in the room. It's always good to have alone time here and there. She later told me that she got answers while she worked on the colors that helped her to heal from the break from her recent relationship. It made her happy.
We met up at a nearby restaurant to be warm in the evening. Neither one of us were hungry. We just sat and drank tea.
Our conversations inspired some things for me, looking at future directions in life. That isolation is a self inflicted prison that stems out of fear and pain. That sometimes the jealousy and competitiveness among females comes from not trusting other females to begin with and this then evokes the jealous competitiveness because this sets up division and attack but in reality, people just want to be in relationship with one another but this initial subtle rejection and judgment is the culprit behind it all.
Then we returned to the room to rest and to do our own kind of meditation. I really admire Linda's ability to ground, focus, and center. It feels very comfortable to be in the same room with her.
Inspired Into Insight
Linda wanted to go shopping at the Bazaar in town. We got onto a bus and headed down the mountain. We learned it's more like a place where locals go to buy vegetables etc... It was quite disappointing. We returned to Mcloud Ganj and did more tourist shopping for our friends and family. Linda and I take great delight in giving gifts to others.
I bought two cotton tops with floral Kashmiri pattern and colors. I bought 4 pairs of gloves knitted by Tibtan Refugees. All proceeds benefit the Tibetan Orphans in Dharmsala. I even found a Yak Yak Yak shirt.
During one of our excursions we accidentally strolled into a monastic residential complex. It was quite complex. We were a bit lost. If we hadden gotten lost we would not have had the opportunities to come across this place. It was nice to see so many Tibetan nuns. They looked happy, healthy and like nice nuns.
We did a lot more wondering around shops. I stopped by the internet for over an hour. Guri has been great in seting me up for Gujurat etc.... I hope it all works well.
Linda spent time along coloring in her mandala color book back in the room. It's always good to have alone time here and there. She later told me that she got answers while she worked on the colors that helped her to heal from the break from her recent relationship. It made her happy.
We met up at a nearby restaurant to be warm in the evening. Neither one of us were hungry. We just sat and drank tea.
Our conversations inspired some things for me, looking at future directions in life. That isolation is a self inflicted prison that stems out of fear and pain. That sometimes the jealousy and competitiveness among females comes from not trusting other females to begin with and this then evokes the jealous competitiveness because this sets up division and attack but in reality, people just want to be in relationship with one another but this initial subtle rejection and judgment is the culprit behind it all.
Then we returned to the room to rest and to do our own kind of meditation. I really admire Linda's ability to ground, focus, and center. It feels very comfortable to be in the same room with her.
I bought two cotton tops with floral Kashmiri pattern and colors. I bought 4 pairs of gloves knitted by Tibtan Refugees. All proceeds benefit the Tibetan Orphans in Dharmsala. I even found a Yak Yak Yak shirt.
During one of our excursions we accidentally strolled into a monastic residential complex. It was quite complex. We were a bit lost. If we hadden gotten lost we would not have had the opportunities to come across this place. It was nice to see so many Tibetan nuns. They looked happy, healthy and like nice nuns.
We did a lot more wondering around shops. I stopped by the internet for over an hour. Guri has been great in seting me up for Gujurat etc.... I hope it all works well.
Linda spent time along coloring in her mandala color book back in the room. It's always good to have alone time here and there. She later told me that she got answers while she worked on the colors that helped her to heal from the break from her recent relationship. It made her happy.
We met up at a nearby restaurant to be warm in the evening. Neither one of us were hungry. We just sat and drank tea.
Our conversations inspired some things for me, looking at future directions in life. That isolation is a self inflicted prison that stems out of fear and pain. That sometimes the jealousy and competitiveness among females comes from not trusting other females to begin with and this then evokes the jealous competitiveness because this sets up division and attack but in reality, people just want to be in relationship with one another but this initial subtle rejection and judgment is the culprit behind it all.
Then we returned to the room to rest and to do our own kind of meditation. I really admire Linda's ability to ground, focus, and center. It feels very comfortable to be in the same room with her.
Living in Dreams, Dreams to Live
I woke up this morning in distress. I dreamed I was in a car with other females. We were headed for a Buddhist retreat. I was on the cell phone with my mom. She told me she sold my car to someone. I started to cry hard. I was extremely upset that she was inconsiderate and didn't understand how much I worked for to pay for the car and pay for college tuition, commute two hours everyday etc... all to work around conditions set up by her just because she's my mom. How she doesn't understand what that car meant to me. It meant freedom and control over myself and my future. It had wheels and speed. I cried in pain and grief over the hardship and complexities.
Then the car stopped for food and I was still crying. I was still very upset that I couldn't finish my food. Plus the rest of my food somehow had scrambles eggs mixed in with my green vegetables and I didn't want to eat that. I left it on the plate. It was all that was left over. The driver called me selfish for taking more food than I needed. I felt great injustice within. I was in too much grief to begin with to say anything. She ordered punishment onto me. She sentenced me to eat out of a glass jar from then on. That I could only eat these old pickles nasty fermented food. I just took it all in.
I woke up upset, angry, hurt, over all of this. Who was this person? What right did this person have to punish me and do this to me? This person was stupid to begin with. I was even dumber to take it all in and follow. I got attacked when I was very worn out, feeling very vulnerable. I took the blows hard and had no energy to be coherent. I ended up just coping with it. I wanted to cry out loud but Linda was still asleep in the room. I could only cry within my mind.
I thought about how I have been only working around what hurts instead of healing what hurts. I am the only bars to the prisons I build for myself. That no one truely prevented me from anything but only my own stupid ways. All day my body was tired and ached from reliving these experiences in dreams, in memory, in now.
Then the car stopped for food and I was still crying. I was still very upset that I couldn't finish my food. Plus the rest of my food somehow had scrambles eggs mixed in with my green vegetables and I didn't want to eat that. I left it on the plate. It was all that was left over. The driver called me selfish for taking more food than I needed. I felt great injustice within. I was in too much grief to begin with to say anything. She ordered punishment onto me. She sentenced me to eat out of a glass jar from then on. That I could only eat these old pickles nasty fermented food. I just took it all in.
I woke up upset, angry, hurt, over all of this. Who was this person? What right did this person have to punish me and do this to me? This person was stupid to begin with. I was even dumber to take it all in and follow. I got attacked when I was very worn out, feeling very vulnerable. I took the blows hard and had no energy to be coherent. I ended up just coping with it. I wanted to cry out loud but Linda was still asleep in the room. I could only cry within my mind.
I thought about how I have been only working around what hurts instead of healing what hurts. I am the only bars to the prisons I build for myself. That no one truely prevented me from anything but only my own stupid ways. All day my body was tired and ached from reliving these experiences in dreams, in memory, in now.
Linda's Profile
This picture of Linda was taken at a vegetarian restaurant over looking the view of Dharmsala. This image reminds me of my friend Emily.
In Search of Real Substance to Fill Up the Void Within
Woke up around 7am this morning. I was awake and recited over and over again because I had time and it delighted me and I was waiting for Linda to roll out of bed so we could head out together. She later told me that while I was waiting for her she was already awake with her eyes open looking at the wall. She saw Shakyamuni Buddha.
I discovered I had a bump on my head from the bus ride. Meditation was not as focused and calm as it has been. I took a shower and massaged my feet and discovered two major bumps that required care.
We headed back to the office to request a ticket to see HHDalai Lama. We learned that he won't be back in town till January 22nd. We will both be long gone by then. We then stopped at Nick's for a full brunch. I ordered tea, gnocci, momo and carrot apple juice. I was stuffed. We spent the rest of the day walking around town looking into shops in the dark because the powers were out. I have learned what delights Linda and brings out the sparkle in her eyes was shopping. It washes all her fatigue away. I am like that at a good vegetable market. For me, it's as if I inhale the nutrients without having to cook it or eat it. The kashmire shawls here are double the price than Pokara, Nepal.
Afterwards we did the pilgrimage trail again, we both enjoy the nature walk. Then we headed back to the hotel for more momos and noodles. The noodles were uninteresting to me. I would never order it again. We both love sitting out in the sun with the view. It was all very relaxing.
Our conversations included a lot of sharing and getting to know each other better. She told me about the void she feels within that she hopes to fill up here. Linda would like to come across a teacher who she could follow and guide her. She is healing from a relationship that ended recently. Linda is also taking the time to think about the future of her work. She is a school teacher and has experienced some challenges with other female co-workers. The jealousy and competitiveness from others has brought her a lot of pain and grief. She is thinking of moving to Dubai and teaching at a international school.
I think we were both in need of rest and really took things slow here; ate, walked, shopped, napped. After watching the sunset and a little bit of rest we both got up to walk some more. We went out to check out bookstores. Linda found a mandala coloring book and journals to help her with her healing process.
Afterwards we went to check out the cinema here. Earlier we saw movie titles as we passed by and felt there were movies we wanted to watch, but when we got there all the titles were changed. So we ended up looking for a restaurant to hang out at to stay warm. It turns out this restaurant is also connected to the movie place. The movie place is owned by the restaurant owner's son. All the DVD covers decorate the walls at this restaurant. The food there was delicious.
So we hung out at the restaurant until it was time to go to bed. There is no heating system in our room. So we both had to wait until we were really tired to fall asleep in the cold.
I discovered I had a bump on my head from the bus ride. Meditation was not as focused and calm as it has been. I took a shower and massaged my feet and discovered two major bumps that required care.
We headed back to the office to request a ticket to see HHDalai Lama. We learned that he won't be back in town till January 22nd. We will both be long gone by then. We then stopped at Nick's for a full brunch. I ordered tea, gnocci, momo and carrot apple juice. I was stuffed. We spent the rest of the day walking around town looking into shops in the dark because the powers were out. I have learned what delights Linda and brings out the sparkle in her eyes was shopping. It washes all her fatigue away. I am like that at a good vegetable market. For me, it's as if I inhale the nutrients without having to cook it or eat it. The kashmire shawls here are double the price than Pokara, Nepal.
Afterwards we did the pilgrimage trail again, we both enjoy the nature walk. Then we headed back to the hotel for more momos and noodles. The noodles were uninteresting to me. I would never order it again. We both love sitting out in the sun with the view. It was all very relaxing.
Our conversations included a lot of sharing and getting to know each other better. She told me about the void she feels within that she hopes to fill up here. Linda would like to come across a teacher who she could follow and guide her. She is healing from a relationship that ended recently. Linda is also taking the time to think about the future of her work. She is a school teacher and has experienced some challenges with other female co-workers. The jealousy and competitiveness from others has brought her a lot of pain and grief. She is thinking of moving to Dubai and teaching at a international school.
I think we were both in need of rest and really took things slow here; ate, walked, shopped, napped. After watching the sunset and a little bit of rest we both got up to walk some more. We went out to check out bookstores. Linda found a mandala coloring book and journals to help her with her healing process.
Afterwards we went to check out the cinema here. Earlier we saw movie titles as we passed by and felt there were movies we wanted to watch, but when we got there all the titles were changed. So we ended up looking for a restaurant to hang out at to stay warm. It turns out this restaurant is also connected to the movie place. The movie place is owned by the restaurant owner's son. All the DVD covers decorate the walls at this restaurant. The food there was delicious.
So we hung out at the restaurant until it was time to go to bed. There is no heating system in our room. So we both had to wait until we were really tired to fall asleep in the cold.
Sweets to Start the New Year
On New Years Day while walking on the streets we came across a couple who were making new years sweet treats for everyone on the street. The husband is Hindi and the wife is Tibetan. They do this to start the new year on good terms with everyone and to connect with everyone on a sweet start. They are also shop owners. It was neat for me to see this was the way they have put their energy in to bring about peace in their inter racial-religious marriage for their new family unit.
Om Hotel
We were dropped off at the upper Dharmasala at Mclout Ganj by HHDalai Lama's residence. It was 5am, dark, cold, and everything was closed. Linda, Alan, and myself found a breakfast place that was just opening up for the day. We parked ourselves there for two hours and waited for all the shops to open. We were all very tired and barely functional. It was nice to sit, park our bags and drink hot tea. During which Alan volunteered to scout out for places to stay. We settled on OM Hotel for 275R a night for a double bedroom with my own shower, hot water at anytime. The window had a nice view of the mountain and sky. I think it was a good find for that price. Plus I didn't have to do any work to negotiate or to check things out etc...
The first thing that happened when we entered the room was Linda rearranging all the furniture so that it was in proper feng-shui., signs and acts of a true Libra. Usually I am the one who does it where ever I go. I was happy with the rearrangment. Both Linda and I went to bed. Linida fell asleep right away. I just restd because I was too cold and too tired to do anything about the cold.
When we both rolled off the bed, we headed out the door around 11am. She went for her laundry and I went on the internet. Guri is connecting me with Jayesh Pi and Yoomi in India.
It was New Year's day and people were cheerful in greeting everyone. That was very nice to see. People in general are nice here. The air is gentle too. People walk around reciting attentively. The monks here look happy. It feels different from other Tibetan communities that I have come across. Here I feel the spirit of Tibet even if everything else looks like India.
On the way to HHDalai Lama's residence, I bought a bag of KurKure just to see what the big deal was. Well, it just tasted like cheetos without the cheeze and with marsala spice instead. A man without hands reached out and asked for it. I handed him my bag of Kurkure and passed it on.
We missed the gate to HHDL's residence. We over shot it somehow. But all we well, because we ended up doing it the right way which was to take the scenic route and do the walking meditation pilgrimage thing. It was a beautiful trail with view of mountains, trees, sky, etc.. Everyone takes this path, the dogs, the cows, the humans all circumambuate this way.
The museum was closed and we planned to try a different day. On the way out I had cold spicy noodles off the street stand. It was too salty and spicy. This shocked Linda to eat off the street stand. It was risky to do so, I do hope I won't get sick from it.
We did our scouting for going to other parts of India. It will take 6 hours on public bus at 5am to get to the Golden Temple in Punjab. The public bus is risky. It shall be an adventure and the path we found is so far the only way to get there.
This day seemed to be a day of shops being closed. The office for any tourist request a ticket to publicly view the HHDL is closed also. So we spent the time reading postings of missing people on the office wall. It's amazing how many tourists dissappear in India. I have been blessed and I prayed this protection keeps going.
We stopped by a little Indian place for food and sat by the window with the view of the sun and mountains. We both ordered Thali. It usually comes on a round silver tray with many conpartments for sauce, curry, etc.... Linda told me what a bundle of energy I was and that it tired her just looking at me. Linda told me how she saw the energy in my aura moved smoothly and hers was not. So we exchanged past experience of all sorts of new age things on the market. Afterwards we headed back to our place and sat out on the deck to watch the blood red orange sun set in the horizon until we were cold.
The first thing that happened when we entered the room was Linda rearranging all the furniture so that it was in proper feng-shui., signs and acts of a true Libra. Usually I am the one who does it where ever I go. I was happy with the rearrangment. Both Linda and I went to bed. Linida fell asleep right away. I just restd because I was too cold and too tired to do anything about the cold.
When we both rolled off the bed, we headed out the door around 11am. She went for her laundry and I went on the internet. Guri is connecting me with Jayesh Pi and Yoomi in India.
It was New Year's day and people were cheerful in greeting everyone. That was very nice to see. People in general are nice here. The air is gentle too. People walk around reciting attentively. The monks here look happy. It feels different from other Tibetan communities that I have come across. Here I feel the spirit of Tibet even if everything else looks like India.
On the way to HHDalai Lama's residence, I bought a bag of KurKure just to see what the big deal was. Well, it just tasted like cheetos without the cheeze and with marsala spice instead. A man without hands reached out and asked for it. I handed him my bag of Kurkure and passed it on.
We missed the gate to HHDL's residence. We over shot it somehow. But all we well, because we ended up doing it the right way which was to take the scenic route and do the walking meditation pilgrimage thing. It was a beautiful trail with view of mountains, trees, sky, etc.. Everyone takes this path, the dogs, the cows, the humans all circumambuate this way.
The museum was closed and we planned to try a different day. On the way out I had cold spicy noodles off the street stand. It was too salty and spicy. This shocked Linda to eat off the street stand. It was risky to do so, I do hope I won't get sick from it.
We did our scouting for going to other parts of India. It will take 6 hours on public bus at 5am to get to the Golden Temple in Punjab. The public bus is risky. It shall be an adventure and the path we found is so far the only way to get there.
This day seemed to be a day of shops being closed. The office for any tourist request a ticket to publicly view the HHDL is closed also. So we spent the time reading postings of missing people on the office wall. It's amazing how many tourists dissappear in India. I have been blessed and I prayed this protection keeps going.
We stopped by a little Indian place for food and sat by the window with the view of the sun and mountains. We both ordered Thali. It usually comes on a round silver tray with many conpartments for sauce, curry, etc.... Linda told me what a bundle of energy I was and that it tired her just looking at me. Linda told me how she saw the energy in my aura moved smoothly and hers was not. So we exchanged past experience of all sorts of new age things on the market. Afterwards we headed back to our place and sat out on the deck to watch the blood red orange sun set in the horizon until we were cold.
Driven By Raiders of the Night
When we exited the plane both Linda and I withdrew money at the ATM. While exiting the customs, I noticed right away that it was not possible to stay at the airport and camp out till the morning if I arrived in the evening. There were illegal taxi sharks swamping and patroling the whole place.
Linda and I stayed together and found strength in unity. We stayed focused and walked straight to the prepaid taxi where there is taxi police just to be on the safe side. We had to make sure we were both very careful to not let anyone other than our chosen driver to know where we were going. Everything had to be done in need to know basis. This way no one can follow us.
Linda had the dirver drop us off a bit ffurther away from where we were going so we can walk on Janpath Road. This was partly because we over shot the sight and told the driver to stop a bit too late. Then it was also good that the driver did not know where we were going exactly. We retrieved our steps and headed into a travel center where everyone was closed and it was dark and quiet. We kept walking and in the corner way in the back, there was light and people in it. If we had not gone all the way we would have missed this shop. We arrived as the Himachal Bus was roling off at 5:30pm. One of the worker had to run and chase after the bus to stop the bus for us. We paid for our ride and ran after the bus ourselves all in quick time. We were on the bus by 5:35pm.
The bus was surprisinely quiet comfy. Alan from England sat behind us. He had just finished 10 days of silent Vipassana meditation retreat and was still adjusting to being out in the city and in communication. He was in a bit of shock when he arrivedin Dehli.
The bus stopped in other stops to pick up people. One of which was the Tibetan Refuge Center. A family of Tibetans showed up. One was a monk and he looked like a younger version of the two elder men in front of him, whom I assum was family. This group of people were all very nice and offered banana to me.
During this stop the driver informed me that I can use the toilet here. I was happy since there was no toilet on the bus. I kept asking him where exactly the toilet was and he pointed to a bush not too far away from the headlights of the bus. Well, to be in the light is to be seen by everyone. To be in the dark means walking on whatever that was left behind by others. It was a challenging task. I found a spot surrounded by bushes with the bus on one side and the road on the other. It was a good call to find a spot because the next stop was at 9pm for dinner and 2:30am for chai.
We stopped at an official bus stop for dinner. There were table and chairs at this rest stop. My dinner was partly cold and I prayed tha I would not get sick from it. Linda and I decided to move to the back of the bus for more room since the bus was not evenn half full. The driver came to check to make sure we were all on the bus before rolling off. That was nice.
As I sat and recited to get ready for bed, I pondered on this whole encounter with Linda. Was it all random? Was it all part of the greater plan? Here I was just less than 10 hours ago by myself, without a ticket to Dehli. Then I made it on to the plane but someone sat in my seat that was next to Linda. Managed to connect with Linda and converse with her anyway and somehow both agreed to go to Dharmsala on the spot. Almost missed our travel agency office and almost missed the bus in Dehli. It's like a movie script, it's like a dream, I wondered if I was the artist writing or dreaming would I have come up with this all on my own. What else is in store for both of us for the next two weeks of travel together.
In order to lay down, I had to stick my feet at the window for a fetal curl position. I also used it for anchoring the rest of my body since there were no seat belts. It made my feet very cold. I wondered if I would get frost bit from this. I prayed I wouldn't. The rest of the ride was bumpy and the bus was going fast. It is best to ride the bus in the evening and not look out the window down the steep mountain cliff. This kind of driving skill belong to the raiders of the night. I decided to trust my life in these people's hands. It's too late now, there is no turning back or getting off. Since this was my first experience, I did not think of having my sleeping bag with me or anything warm for cover. I was cold the whole night. It was one bumpy ride. I was flying all over the bus. I could not sleep because I was so cold. I could not sleep because I was could not stay in my seat. I could not sleep because I was in so much pain from all the bumps I got on the ride. It's reallly more like a roller coaster ride without a seat belt.
When the bus stopped for Chai, I wanted something hot but without milk in it. But it was all they were serving. My feet were cold like they have been in refridg. So I had chai to warm up and prayed to not get sick. The man charged me 10R for the 5R chai. I didn't argue. I was cold, I was tired, it just wasn't worth it. Linda and I decided to look for a bush, it was a good thing we did because right after we were done, another bus came and there were crowds all looking for a bush.
Linda and I stayed together and found strength in unity. We stayed focused and walked straight to the prepaid taxi where there is taxi police just to be on the safe side. We had to make sure we were both very careful to not let anyone other than our chosen driver to know where we were going. Everything had to be done in need to know basis. This way no one can follow us.
Linda had the dirver drop us off a bit ffurther away from where we were going so we can walk on Janpath Road. This was partly because we over shot the sight and told the driver to stop a bit too late. Then it was also good that the driver did not know where we were going exactly. We retrieved our steps and headed into a travel center where everyone was closed and it was dark and quiet. We kept walking and in the corner way in the back, there was light and people in it. If we had not gone all the way we would have missed this shop. We arrived as the Himachal Bus was roling off at 5:30pm. One of the worker had to run and chase after the bus to stop the bus for us. We paid for our ride and ran after the bus ourselves all in quick time. We were on the bus by 5:35pm.
The bus was surprisinely quiet comfy. Alan from England sat behind us. He had just finished 10 days of silent Vipassana meditation retreat and was still adjusting to being out in the city and in communication. He was in a bit of shock when he arrivedin Dehli.
The bus stopped in other stops to pick up people. One of which was the Tibetan Refuge Center. A family of Tibetans showed up. One was a monk and he looked like a younger version of the two elder men in front of him, whom I assum was family. This group of people were all very nice and offered banana to me.
During this stop the driver informed me that I can use the toilet here. I was happy since there was no toilet on the bus. I kept asking him where exactly the toilet was and he pointed to a bush not too far away from the headlights of the bus. Well, to be in the light is to be seen by everyone. To be in the dark means walking on whatever that was left behind by others. It was a challenging task. I found a spot surrounded by bushes with the bus on one side and the road on the other. It was a good call to find a spot because the next stop was at 9pm for dinner and 2:30am for chai.
We stopped at an official bus stop for dinner. There were table and chairs at this rest stop. My dinner was partly cold and I prayed tha I would not get sick from it. Linda and I decided to move to the back of the bus for more room since the bus was not evenn half full. The driver came to check to make sure we were all on the bus before rolling off. That was nice.
As I sat and recited to get ready for bed, I pondered on this whole encounter with Linda. Was it all random? Was it all part of the greater plan? Here I was just less than 10 hours ago by myself, without a ticket to Dehli. Then I made it on to the plane but someone sat in my seat that was next to Linda. Managed to connect with Linda and converse with her anyway and somehow both agreed to go to Dharmsala on the spot. Almost missed our travel agency office and almost missed the bus in Dehli. It's like a movie script, it's like a dream, I wondered if I was the artist writing or dreaming would I have come up with this all on my own. What else is in store for both of us for the next two weeks of travel together.
In order to lay down, I had to stick my feet at the window for a fetal curl position. I also used it for anchoring the rest of my body since there were no seat belts. It made my feet very cold. I wondered if I would get frost bit from this. I prayed I wouldn't. The rest of the ride was bumpy and the bus was going fast. It is best to ride the bus in the evening and not look out the window down the steep mountain cliff. This kind of driving skill belong to the raiders of the night. I decided to trust my life in these people's hands. It's too late now, there is no turning back or getting off. Since this was my first experience, I did not think of having my sleeping bag with me or anything warm for cover. I was cold the whole night. It was one bumpy ride. I was flying all over the bus. I could not sleep because I was so cold. I could not sleep because I was could not stay in my seat. I could not sleep because I was in so much pain from all the bumps I got on the ride. It's reallly more like a roller coaster ride without a seat belt.
When the bus stopped for Chai, I wanted something hot but without milk in it. But it was all they were serving. My feet were cold like they have been in refridg. So I had chai to warm up and prayed to not get sick. The man charged me 10R for the 5R chai. I didn't argue. I was cold, I was tired, it just wasn't worth it. Linda and I decided to look for a bush, it was a good thing we did because right after we were done, another bus came and there were crowds all looking for a bush.
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