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Published: April 9th 2012
So far this April, the Darjeeling area has already experienced two torrential, afternoon hail downpours which have caused everyone to stay inside all afternoon. Both of them left the landscape looking like it had just snowed there was so much hail on the ground and building roofs.
Last week was the annual Bhutanese buddhist masked dance which I was fortunate enough to be able to experience while staying with two teachers, Ty and Eden, in Pedong, a small town which is on Bhutanese land rented by the Indian Government. The monks at Samchen Dorji Gompa where the festival was held were such great fun and on the last night we had a campfire and sung and danced in the Bhutanese tradition around it.
The masked dance is a drama that depicts stories from the coming of buddhism to tibet, brought by Guru Rinpoche in the 9th century and some of the buddhist beliefs of what happens to us between one life and the next. The most entertaining characters were called the 4 jokers and they just danced and took the piss the whole time, waving around wooden penises and doing other crazy things. The represent the seemingly crazy behaviour
Banana Chocolate Honey Sugar Lemon Pankakes and Chili Omelette
Joker, one of the monks at the Samchen Dorji Gompa was so kind to make us this meal which a previous gap teacher had introduced to him. Delicious!of yogic masters and wise men who's understanding of reality is uncomprehendable to us so they seem crazy.
I've decided to keep the blog short and fill it with photos from last week. Enjoy!
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ben deane
non-member comment
yo
Sup cuzzy looks like your having a real good time, India looks amazing. I've started uni now down in Dunedin its going real well Im loving living down there. Studies hard to do lots of exciting things always going on haha. Look forward to seeing you when you get back :) Ben