Blogs from Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia
March 29th 2012
The cows are still here! So are the affectionate dogs, miniature cups of chai and delicious samosa vendors along the street. Ahoy, India! Here I am again, nearly seven years later; a little smarter, a little taller (I think) and a bit more travel savvy. Much has changed since I was a mere 23 yr old student, taking off to explore the great wide world out there with my best friend from university. Dear India has matched that growth and change step by step. The city metro is up and running through Delhi - blessed, blessed Metro! I nearly kissed the pavement when I discovered that I could take the train straight from the outskirts of Delhi, right into the squalid bliss of the Main Bazaar and Hotel New King! Memories of being tackled by taxi ... read more
October 22nd 2011
Il y a des journees moins droles dans la vie; cette nuit j'ai eu un acces de frissons et toute la journee j'ai ete comme une zombie. Alors on a fait une jurnee molo, promenade en "ville" le matin, en autoricksaw l'apres-midi. Nous avons visite le temple Bhogswan (ou nous avons eu la chance de trouver un homme saint qui nous a fait tout un ceremonial, nous avons tous les 2 de signes ocre sur nos fronts). Par apres nous sommes revenu au temple Namgyal ou beaucoup de monde voulait se photographier avec nous. Comme quoi nous aussi nous sommes des "éxotiques". Et pour finir la journee nous avons fait un tour de la voie circomvolutive Kora autour de Namgyal. C'est un sentier que les gens empruntent pour mediter. I y a des dizaine de moulins ... read more
October 21st 2011
Hier soir nous nous sommes endormis berces par les chants des krisnas. C'était tres reposant. Ce matin, premier reveil brusque a 5 h avec les aboiements furieux des chiens vagabonds (j'avais oublie de mentionner qu'a part les vaches sacres qui se trouvent partout, il y a aussi un nombre incroyable de chiens vagabons! Aussi partout) Bouchons d'oreille et 2 h plus tard, reveil enchateur avec vue impregnable sur les montagnes devant nous! Quel merveille. Nous avons pris un petit dej sur "notre terrasse" yoghurt et pain tibetain. The plus tard dans la rue, avec des moines tibetains qui nous ont offert le the et nous ont conduit jusqu'aux escaliers (300 marches) qui descendaient vers un autre monastere moin connu mais tellement paisible (du a l'acces relativement difficile). Au fait on aurait aime dormir la depuis le ... read more
January 14th 2011
always wanted to start of with my travelling experiences long back..but then was a bit lazy, and also the lack of writing skills,and other such reasons...reasons being many...so will start off with my first travell experience..although it has been almost 3 yrs since then, and my hairs grown pretty longer, memories are still vivd....for that was the time that sparked my dormant instinct..the love for travelling...and after that i was never satisfied...FLASHBACK.... TIME: 6 pm. ..1st july 2008..tuesday..... DESTINATION..macleodganj On our way to DHARAMSALa...me and few of my friends..... my first trip ever..so full of excitement....we took a bus at around 9 pm from isbt,delhi..nothing notable during the bus ride.. wasnt really a comfy one.. except for the excitement what lays in store...some imaginations about the place and the trekking as to ho... read more
November 15th 2010
With sadness i hiked from the Yoga Shala down to a cab for the airport. Upper Bagsu was like my personal Shangrila. A routine of challenging meditation and yoga mixed with home-made village food, then afternoons to walk down to the markets or hike in the hills. Other than being sick to go home, i have been so relaxed and in peace here. One could slip into a time warp and spend months in this place, which is exactly what many do. Thanks to Mike for Thomas Kempis and his writings. It has given me much to think about during mediations. I also had the privilege here of doing the prayer walk around the Dali Lama's residence. There are many prayer wheels to spin and monks to watch. I posted some pictures on Facebook of a ... read more
November 11th 2010
I have to admit i was a little nervous flying into the Himalayans with no place to stay and no plans. But that was part of my plan for India; let God teach me. Stacey helped me a little at the airport to scope one guest house and a potential yoga centre. So with some lovely KFC in my belly I flew out of Delhi into the north. Outside of the airport I negotiated a taxi to a place called Mcleod Ganj; the neighborhood of Dharmasala i thought i would stay. 550 rupees seemed steep ($12) until i found out it was a one hour ride up one lane roads high high high into the hills. It is mountainous here with little villages dotting the roadways and hills. The cab driver fast became my friend and ... read more
July 21st 2010
Mr and Mrs McPanderson awaken from their near coma-like post wedding day slumber in their swanky overpriced hotel suite, they order a gargantuan breakfast via room service and saunter their merry way back to their flat (he still in his wedding day suit - looking DAMN fine) in a blind rush to make it to the airport on time..... We begin our saga with stress and heartache of getting home to realise that we don't have enough house keys to accommodate the best man to getting in to the flat to retrieve all the rentalwear, the parents of the bride getting in to tidy for us when we are away (win!) and of course, our lovely selves getting home post honeymoon. This is soon resolved when as we are flapping and trying to reach a solution, ... read more
June 25th 2010
Our 10th Mahindra Homestay was Jaishree & Vijay Mankotia's Om Mahal in Kangra valley near Dharmanshala. Crossing Shimla is such a pain. The traffic is unbearable and despite helpful cops standing at every turn we took a good one hour to get out of the maze. Since we were 'inside Shimla' now, we decided to pay a visit the dear old Peterhoff Hotel. In 2004 we had come to this heritage hotel to get flagged off on the Raid de Himalaya. From Shimla the road is pretty straight to Gaggal... just stay on NH 88. We took a couple of detours because of landslides (yes... even in the summer these things happen) and sometimes because we felt the off-road was more picturesque than the highway. We finally reached Gaggal (via Bilaspur, Hamirpur. Jwalamikhi and Kangra). Om ... read more
Going down to Dharemsela Town...and up Again...and down...and up!
Published: November 20th 2009Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Dharamsala
November 19th 2009
Supposed to leave at 7.30am today for Dharamshala which is a 12 hour journey, but Tim had to wake Shaleem up to make our breakfast and then Gulaam had to pick a “friend” who was taking the journey there too (in the car we had paid for). Finally were on the road at 8.40. Arrived at our destination 13.5 hours later after absolutely hair raising drive through the mountains, along a plain and then through and up and up and up some more mountains. I worked on the basis that Gulaam was over 50 years old and had driven that route many, many times so the close skirmishes at cliff edges were nothing nor was there a need to worry about hurtling oncoming trucks and cars as he overtook on blind hairpin bends. In fact I ... read more
October 10th 2009
SAB KUCH MILLEGA (Anything is available) Well I am on my own now as team Gap adventure has officially disbanded! It was an uber 20 days but it was starting to get a little claustrophobic and skool trip esque. But I will begin by regailing you with the end of our tour. Bhang Bhang, you shot me down, Bhang bhang I hit the ground, Bhang Bhang that awful sound, Bhang Bhang my baby shot me down... The scene: Varanasi. The plan: Get high. The result: Messy. Allow me to explain. Varanasi - Indias holy mecca upon Ganges - is a hotbed for what is known as bhang, a legal marajuana derived substance added in this case to Lassi (a yoghurt drink that is num num!) Good old Govind our tour leader had made sure at the ... read more
