Blogs from Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia - page 5

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Manali July 5th 2017

Buses in India. Let's just say that if you experience riding a bus in Himachal Pradesh, India...you will never be able to watch the movie SPEED (Starring Sandra Bullock and Keeanu Reeves) with the same eyes EVER AGAIN. Going to the Himalayan Mountains is for sure a MUST while vacationing in India, however going by the local bus companies may not be the wisest. Although I will tip my hat at an Himachal bus driver because these guys are professionals at what they do: driving insanely fast on twisty turny roads, and only six inches of space between your buses wheels and a certain death off the cliff face alongside you. My first trip to one of the hill stations while in HP had me death gripping the seat in front of me (and unadmittedly squeeling ... read more

Delhi to Shimla

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Shimla June 26th 2017

Kevinsharp

Once on the express train from Delhi to Kalpa there was at last a chance to relax. The seats were comfortable and the train had really effective air-conditioning. The air temperature in Delhi was about 35 degrees with high humidity so cool air was wonderful. Almost as soon as we sat down we were served chai, Indian tea. Very hot and refreshing. Soon after, food was served, delicious little starter followed by tasty curry and bread and strawberry jam backed up by a piece of very sweet coconut cake. Off to a good start on our trip. More tea then came, a Thermos of hot water, tea bag and cup. Perfect! A very handsome and beautifully turned out Sikh conductor came to collect the tickets and then there was chance to chat and catch a few ... read more

On the bikes at last.

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Sarahan June 26th 2017

Kevinsharp

Following breakfast and a brief chat with our American medic Kristen we loaded our luggage onto the backup minibus, put on our bike gear and walked over to where the bikes were stored. Another briefing followed where we learnt how to start and ride our seemingly ancient steeds, Indian manufactured 500cc Royal Enfield Bullets. Starting was particularly useful as they were not easy to kick start and stalled in the worst of places, usually on a steep uphill section of sandy earth with a lorry 2 feet behind you and a bus heading straight towards you. With some trepidation we fought our way through the chaotic traffic out of Shimla on streets still wet from the early morning rain and started to get used to our rather agricultural bikes. After stops for chai and very tasty ... read more

Across the Moon to Losar

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Spiti Valley June 24th 2017

Behind the Losar monastery

mahadev

Himachal Pradesh June 2017 “The basis of peace of mind is to be content with what one has and thus to be in harmony with the world at large.... The root of light is Nothingness The source of all movement is Stillness The source of all sound is Silence” Ramesh Balsekar 'Advaita on Zen and Tao' “The primordial purity of the ground completely transcends words, concepts, and formulations” Jamgon Kongtrul 'Myriad Worlds' I have entered a veritable moonscape on my way to Losar. Both the vistas and the changing light bring me into glimpses of awareness.... of relativity... of the reality of now and the bliss of just being in a place in time that defies description. I have only myself to share this with, apart from the phenomenon of writing about it here. The landscapes ... read more

Spiti to Vashisht – Where a Goat Track would be a Blessing

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Kullu June 24th 2017

Top of Kunzum Pass

mahadev

Himachal Pradesh June 2017 “...the freedom of awakening is a relative freedom from the constraints of self-centered confusion and turmoil, from the craving for a fixed identity, from the compulsion to contrive a perfect situation, from identification with preconceived opinions, and from the anguish that originates from such attachments. …..The freedom of awakening is grounded in the cessation of craving. Such freedom is possible because the changing, contingent, ambiguous, and creative character of reality is by its very nature free. Stephen Batchelor 'Buddhism without Belief' I am on the last leg of my trip. And the last blog of this series. What lays before presents a mind and courage challenge for me, as I have bad memories of coming on this part of the road the other ... read more

Looking back to Kunzum and Spiti from the beginning of Rhotang Pass

Mudh: Where Roads End

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Spiti Valley June 23rd 2017

The approach to Mudh.. Pin Valley

mahadev

Himachal Pradesh June 2017 “Zen teaches vigilant carelessness and detached involvement. In a more high-sounding phrase, it teaches transcendental ordinariness. In a simpler, more sympathetic phrase, it teaches nothing but ordinariness.” Yoel Hoffman: 'The sound of the one hand' Mudh is at the end of Pin Valley which is an offshoot of Spiti Valley. It's a tiny place that has become yet another reachable destination in this moonscape that is Spiti. The road meanders alongside the relatively slow running and dispersed Pin River and one imagines it when frozen in the middle of a dark winter. On the way here, about 15 km before Mudh, I view a Buddhist monastery up a side road and decide to take a look. Besides the newer monastery building are the original monastery halls full of old p... read more

Inside the old Buddhist hall at the monastery

Into the Time-Warp of Tabo

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Spiti Valley June 22nd 2017

Scenery Nako to Tabo

mahadev

Himachal Pradesh June 2017 “Since death alone is certain and the time of death uncertain, what should I do?” Stephen Batchelor: Meditation on 'resolve', 'Buddhism Without Belief' “Because you are alive, everything is possible.” Thic Nhat Hanh Gladys the wonder bike (my Royal Enfield) hums and purrs as I glyde down a remarkably good sealed winding Himalayan road.... as if on a groomed ski-slope. On a clear crisp morning, this is one of the things that takes me to bliss. I momentarily think “it does not get better than this” in between remaining very focused on the road ahead, the possibility of approaching traffic around blind corners, and of potholes or other obstacles. At times too, I imagine myself coming to grief and falling into the deep abyss below... but this then becomes a 'death' meditation. ... read more

Bodhisattvas statues on walls of main temple assembly hall

The Journey Begins.... Sarahan

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Kinnaur June 20th 2017

Bhima Kali Temple

mahadev

Himachal Pradesh June 2017 “I am not the mind. I am neither intelligence nor egoism. I am the joy of intelligence. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.” Adi Sankara And so.... I have wanted to return to Spiti Valley again after first visiting there together with my mate Mark on our Royal Enfield motorcycles in 2010. There were places I just fancied spending more time in... and new places also. I live in a rented house in Inner Seraj Valley... just 6 km before Jalorie Pass in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. A great 'take off' point for Spiti, which I figured would take me just two days riding north to reach, approaching from the eastern side of Himachal via Rampur and returning via Manali on the western side (or more in the middle of Himchal). ... read more

India with Krystal--The Bucket Shower

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Dharamsala June 13th 2017

DSC_4645

KrystalKelly

Ahhhh India. India. India. India. I lived in the mountains in Himachal Pradesh, one of the states in India famous for the Himalayan Mountains. During my two month life in a very limited town--I was the only international foreigner inhabitant--I had to survive without the basic necessities required of most American blonde girls. One of such necessity: hot water shower. That's right. No bathroom in my apartment. And no hot water shower. The only shower system available was found across the street at my neighbors joint family accomadation, and even then the shower was COLD WATER only. Now did I mention I was living near the Himalayas? In winter? Not exactly the weather I would be tempted even slightly to participate in a cold water shower on a daily basis first thing every morning. Water in ... read more

A short trip to Shimla

Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh May 22nd 2017

IMG_20170521_161456

Adg

Hello Friends, This is my first blog ever, where I would like to share some of my experiences regarding my recent visit to Shimla (State capital of Himachal Pradesh in India). So, please accept my apologies if you think that I am wrong somewhere. Shimla which was also known as The Summer Capital of India during british era, no doubt is a beautiful hill station and one can relax there and chill out at various points. The weather there is cool and pleasant during the month of May-June, the time during which northern plain regions like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh have the extreme summers, sometimes temperature reaching beyond 45 degrees celsius. But, in Shimla the temperature hardly goes beyond 25 degrees celsius during day time. Cool breeze will rejuvenate your mind and soul giving ... read more

Brief history of India

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab in...more history

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