McLeod Ganj
Namaste from McLeod Ganj, India. McLeod Ganj is the home of the Dalai Lama in exile. It is also home to many Tibetans. I keep having to remind myself that we are indeed still in India. It feels very different this high up in the mountains, and we see more Tibetans than Indians in this town.
I spent the whole day yesterday in our room nursing a stomach flu (that’s what I have called it). We have been very lucky with gastro issues throughout the trip, however yesterday was not so good. Our room is pretty basic but has the most incredible views of mountains, and the town of McLeod Ganj overlooking Dharamsala down the hill about 500m. We have windows on two walls and a balcony, and while napping yesterday two BIG monkies (monkeys?) woke me up looking in the windows. You have to be careful here with leaving balcony doors open, or leaving laundry out on the balcony as the monkeys (that looks right to me) get up to no good. I wouldn’t want to wake up to them in my room - they are really big and beefy. Anyhow, feeling better today thankfully.
While McLeod Ganj is a busy town with infrastructure and tourists, just a few minutes outside it is quite rural and quiet. It is surrounded by green rolling hills and has a mountain backdrop. We went for a hike today from here through to Bahgsu and a nearby waterfall. At the waterfall there were monks in the basin bathing (the water was not running very high) and washing their robes. Long pieces of fabric, both bright orange and burgundy were laid on the rocks to dry while the monks went for a swim in the water. From the waterfall we continued uphill again to Dharmkot then back to McLeod Ganj. It was nice to walk in forest again with massive pine trees…all uphill of course which is not my favorite. Everything here is uphill or downhill… no flat road anywhere!
Had our first momos today for lunch - momos are Tibetan gyoza. Tasty little bundles of goodness. We ordered veg, and also a plate of cheese momo. They are served steamed with firy chili sauce. Going to take another cooking class, this time Tibetan - momos 1 day, soup the next, and bread the day after that. The bread here is looovely… Tibetan brown bread - kind of looks like an English Muffin, but it is a perfect texture, chewy, tasty, yummy.
Anyhow, thats all for now.
Hope that all is well at home,
Paula
xoox
October 21 2007 11:42 am | India