Blogs from Mcleod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia - page 2

I had lost count of the days when one morning Reeta asks if I want to go to Dharamsala. I'd said no the day before and again declined. I had spent my days between yoga sessions sat on a low-lying table they have outside the kitchen, but used as a bench, reading, writing or many times enjoying the calm of the scenery and the sound of the river. My curiosity was aroused though when I noticed they had made an extra special effort with their clothes. 'Why are you going to Dharamsala?' There had been a curfew for cars in Mcleod after 6pm because of an incident, Reeta said some Tibetans had been drinking and beat up some cops. This upset their daily routine and so were making a complaint to the local Dimaschal (the region) ... read more

Sooo I'm off to India. And why? The simplest answer is to do yoga. I'd looked into doing an intensive course in the UK but in London the rent alone would mean I'd need to get a part time job, not ideal, and even were I to live rent free, India proves cheaper so here I am, but a month before the course actually starts. So I have 4 wks to ideally get in as much yoga as possible. And why yoga? 4 years ago, approx, I started pilates. Trying to live out some skewed 'action man' alter ego I joined the army. And has happened many times in the past I suffered badly with muscle strains; shin splints, back strains, ankles, among others and in training it was plantar fasciitis. Somehow I knew core strength ... read more

My last blog got quite long and frankly, I lost interest in continuing it…possibly why I would make a horrible author. I would most likely publish the book half written! So I will clarify now, that the reason I was able to write that blog was because all these months later, I could access the sadness and pain I felt over the last year with detachment. I no longer feel sad about those events. But I also want to remember and learn from them. It is new for me to acknowledge my feelings and I am working hard at seeing them honestly and letting them go…I haven’t quite figured out how to do that yet, but I hope before my next life to at least make some progress! So that was my intention with my last ... read more

Παει σχεδόν μια εβδομαδα που πήραμε τα βουνά και να τηνε η χάρη μας στα 1770 μετρα απο τη θαλασσα. Mcleodganj το όνομα του και οι οποιοι ευαισθητοποιημένοι με τη Θιβετιανή ιστορία ίσως και να το έχουν ακουστα. Δεν είμαι μια απο αυτούς, μιας και επρεπε να ταξιδεψω ως εδώ για να ξεστραβωθω. Είναι εδώ που στεκει εξόριστη η κυβερνηση του Θιβέτ και φυσικά ο His Holyness Dalai Lama. Έτσι τον αποκαλούν εδώ. Είναι η προσωποποίηση της πίστης τους και της ελπίδας τους οτι μια μέρα το Θιβέτ θα είναι και παλι ελεύθερο. Και η ζωή είναι δύσκολη αλλά το χαμόγελο δε λείπει. Κομπασιον λένε οι Θιβετιανοί βουδιστές, μοναχοι και εγκοσμιοι και είναι έτοιμοι να ξεχάσουν, να συγχωρήσουν, να προχωρήσουν. Θέλησα να πάρω tips διαχειρησης θυμου απο εναν απο αυτους. Ανάσες μου είπε και μου έδειξε ... read more

Dharamsala. Home of the Dalai Lama. Unfortunately I missed hearing the His Holiness speak by one day and so I by-passed Dharamsala, the city, and went a little further up to the tourist haunt that is Mcleod Ganj, or upper Dharamsala. It is swarming with tourists, but it doesn't necessarily feel that way. The beautiful Tibetan people ensure it keeps a certain calm and tranquility about the place, amidst the chaos. For such a small place, there is a lot going on. There are as many 'tourist' bus operating companies and trekking companies as you would find in any bigger city and they're all crammed into three narrow 'main' streets, in amongst the Tibetan traders, small restaurants and clothing stores (there is surprisingly a lot of these too). You share the small narrow streets with buses ... read more