Saturday, September 19
What's your dream, Mike?
Mike, 26 years old from Louisianna, US. He's hiking in the Himalayas dreaming about getting enlightened. He speaks Hindi, Tibetan and Nepalese and volenteers as an English teacher. And he was laughing after I filmed him saying 'I must sound like the most pretentious idiot! Hahaha'
New Delhi
When I woke up this morning I was sicker than I ever remember I've been. It's something about those Indian stomach disorders that really shuts down your system. Last time I was in India I was ill for more than two months after I left the country.
Anyway, yesterday I managed to buy a last-minute ticket on a flight to New Delhi, since I realized the option of taking a bus for 14 hours with a 'bad stomach' wasn't really an option. I was really nervous that they would cancel the flight, because they do that quite often because of bad visibility. When I was in the taxi going down the serpentine road leaving Dharamsala, I felt I was panicking by the idea of not being able to leave for some reason. My fever took the last courage away. All of a sudden I just wanted to get away from the dirt, the mold, the smell, the food that made me so ill...you can imagine my relief when the plane took off! When I arrived to New Delhi a driver from The Imperial Hotel picked me up at the airport, with a cold aroma oil towel, spring water and AC. I was in heaven!
Now I'm in a bed with clean sheets, had a dinner that I was able to keep in my body, had some antibiotics and my fever has gone down, and I'm going to have the best sleep in a very long time...
Anyway, yesterday I managed to buy a last-minute ticket on a flight to New Delhi, since I realized the option of taking a bus for 14 hours with a 'bad stomach' wasn't really an option. I was really nervous that they would cancel the flight, because they do that quite often because of bad visibility. When I was in the taxi going down the serpentine road leaving Dharamsala, I felt I was panicking by the idea of not being able to leave for some reason. My fever took the last courage away. All of a sudden I just wanted to get away from the dirt, the mold, the smell, the food that made me so ill...you can imagine my relief when the plane took off! When I arrived to New Delhi a driver from The Imperial Hotel picked me up at the airport, with a cold aroma oil towel, spring water and AC. I was in heaven!
Now I'm in a bed with clean sheets, had a dinner that I was able to keep in my body, had some antibiotics and my fever has gone down, and I'm going to have the best sleep in a very long time...
Friday, September 18
What's your dream, Gus?
Gus, 17 year old working at 'Moonlight Café' in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala. He's parents are sick so Gus is running the business alone, which doesn't go down very well. He's dreaming about becoming a bank manager. When I spoke to him for a while he said he had three problems:
1) The biggest problem was that he didn't have any clothes to wear at next weeks school party. He only had one set of clothes, what he was wearing. And he wasn't able to go if he didn't have a pair of jeans like the other kids otherwise they'd tease him (western problems creeping into mountain villages).
2) He didn't have any shoes to wear. He could borrow his dad's shoes, but they were too big.
3) The third biggest problem to Gus was that he couldn't pay the fee for the school, so he'd get thrown out next week.
We calculated that it would cost 1200 rupees (less than 20 €) to solve those three problems. So I left with 20 € less in my pocket and one boy's smile happier.
Your Dharamsala Guide
I met this Australian woman called Sharon Thrupp. She lives in upper Dharamsala and arranges spiritual tours up here. So if you ever need to know where to stay, what to do or where to go - this is a reliable person who's got plenty of experience of India:
Her blog: Nirvanatours
Sharon Thrupp e-mail: info(at)eknoexperience.com
Her blog: Nirvanatours
Sharon Thrupp e-mail: info(at)eknoexperience.com
Cat shower
You remember the cat in my room at The Golden Gate Hotel in San Fransisco? Well, check this guy out he's taking it one step further:
Thursday, September 17
His Holyness Dalai Lama
So...what happened was the following. After much hustle getting a presspass from the Foreign Ministry, I wasn't allowed to neither film or take pictures of Dalai Lama. The presspass alowed me to bring my equipment into the Temple though, since I was allowed to use the camera before and after his lectures. My questions I had to leave to his secretary. And like I mentioned before, my special invitation included me and a few thousand (!) Koreans...
But it was great! So many people and monks, and so still and quiet. As soon as he started to talk everyone were silent for hours. People barely went to the bathroom. A quote:
"...--- no matter what is going on, never give up. Develop the heart...-- too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart. Be compassionate, not just to your friends but to everyone. Be compassionate, work for peace. --- and I say it again: never give up! No matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you, never give up."
Oh...I was so lucky to be there and see him! I wanted to see Dalai Lama for so many years, and I didn't know that he would be here when I re-squeduled the trip from Ladakh to Dharamsala. That's what I call syncronisity! And the most touching thing was to see the really old Tibetan men and women kneeling down, touching their heads on the floor in fron of him - the appreciation for what he does for the Tibetan people is immense, and what he said above sort of sums it up. I'm very very moved...
And you know what - once I was there the security let me film for about 30 seconds! So here's the precious clip:
But it was great! So many people and monks, and so still and quiet. As soon as he started to talk everyone were silent for hours. People barely went to the bathroom. A quote:
"...--- no matter what is going on, never give up. Develop the heart...-- too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart. Be compassionate, not just to your friends but to everyone. Be compassionate, work for peace. --- and I say it again: never give up! No matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you, never give up."
Oh...I was so lucky to be there and see him! I wanted to see Dalai Lama for so many years, and I didn't know that he would be here when I re-squeduled the trip from Ladakh to Dharamsala. That's what I call syncronisity! And the most touching thing was to see the really old Tibetan men and women kneeling down, touching their heads on the floor in fron of him - the appreciation for what he does for the Tibetan people is immense, and what he said above sort of sums it up. I'm very very moved...
And you know what - once I was there the security let me film for about 30 seconds! So here's the precious clip:
Wednesday, September 16
What's your dream, Matt?
Matt, 22 years old from Lousianna, US. Hiking Mt Dhauladhar dreaming about enlightenment. He's studying on the social worker program back in the US and his professor brings a group of students every year to India, pretty good move I'd say...
Every day heroes
There's something about this horrible feeling, being a western person in a poor country never being able help as much as you want. I try to give as much as I can, but it's never going to be enough. Besides, I'm just giving here and now because it's all in my face and as soon as I get home I'll forget about it...or? It's a classic dilemma.
I feel like an idiot talking to people who've done volunteer work for years, when I just felt slightly better after paying the school fee for a boy. There are so many great people out there; teaching English in slum schools, helping out in hospitals, raising money for Tibet. My heart is growing day by day seeing all those amazing things happening. And the real heroes; the boy in the coffee shop running the café alone since both of his parents are sick, the monk living in a shed with no toilet or running water and still smiling in bliss every time you look at him - these people make their life worth living in ways hard to imagine.
Last time I was in India I promised myself to never go back (I was even sicker that time). This time I want to tell everyone to go here - it's for sure a life changing experience!
I feel like an idiot talking to people who've done volunteer work for years, when I just felt slightly better after paying the school fee for a boy. There are so many great people out there; teaching English in slum schools, helping out in hospitals, raising money for Tibet. My heart is growing day by day seeing all those amazing things happening. And the real heroes; the boy in the coffee shop running the café alone since both of his parents are sick, the monk living in a shed with no toilet or running water and still smiling in bliss every time you look at him - these people make their life worth living in ways hard to imagine.
Last time I was in India I promised myself to never go back (I was even sicker that time). This time I want to tell everyone to go here - it's for sure a life changing experience!
Teach a monk?
"Hello! My name is Jamyang, I'm a TIBETAN refugee monk living in McLeod Gang. I'm learning ENGLISH and I've been having CONVERSATION classes with friends. Now they are leaving and I'm looking for somebody else to talk to. So if you are interested please contact me, I'll be very greatful!! Thanks :)"
The Tibetan monks are very keen to learn English since they're refugees and have to live outside their country. My new monk friend Thuptean, keep writing down things I say all the time in a little notebook. He can't afford to have any more English classes, since it cost him 200 rupees a month (less than 3€). Instead, he learns from the tourists.
What's your dream, Arrty?
Arrty 23 years old grew up in the Dharamsala area and has been traveling in India quite a bit. Now he's back home working at 'Coffe Talk', a café owned by one of the high lamas in Dalai Lamas refugee village McLeod Ganj.
Tuesday, September 15
On tha mountain'
The Camp - Click 'Play' and on the bottom right corner for full screen.
The Hike - Click 'Play' and on the bottom right corner for full screen.
Pics from Mt Dhauladhar, Dharamsala, India.
What's your dream, Neil?
This is Neil (or his Tibetan name I can't spell) who I met on the mountain. He's very loved and respected in the Dalai Lama village McLeod Ganj, working on projects helping the Tibetan people. He lives in India half of the year and Louisianna the other half of the year. What a dream...
Well...to tell you the truth, this is the not so spiritually advanced answer I got at first.
It was worth it!
Sorry for disappearing, I got really sick and I'm in bed with a fever. This is what happened: The buddhist monk Thuptean, took me for a hike at the mountain two days ago. Quite soon we realized it took quite much longer for me to get up, being not half as fast as him (he's like a mountain goat!) + filming and taking pictures and all.
So when we met a group of Americans who invited us to stay over the night in their camp on top of the mountain, we accepted their invitation. When we got there the sun was about to set. We were about 12 people up there not believing our minds! Being above the clouds, watching birds with a wingspan broader than a tall man quietly gliding by, surrounded by goats, sheep and cows, watching the most beautiful sunset I ever saw in my life. I don't think I ever felt so happy.
Later on we were sitting around the campfire, getting a delicious (madly poisonous I found out later) Indian dinner with vegetables, dal, rice, chapatis and chai masala. I was quite suspicious, since the mountain people who lived up there cooked the food in a shed and it was no spring water on the top - they had to carry the water up with donkeys - which probably didn't improve the hygiene in the kitchen. But I didn't want to be rude, and it was wonderful after the hike.
The group up there were social workers from Louisiana, their professor took his students to India every year for different charity work. One of his students called Mike, knew Tibetan to Thupteans delight, so they had a long conversation.
It's really cold in the mountains at night, I bought a hat and socks up there, sleeping in all my clothes + a thick sleeping bag which kept me warm. I fell asleep to an Indian couple arguing loudly in their shed (keeping everyone awake for about two hours wondering what they acctually argued about) and the rest of the locals playing drums singing around the campfire trying to not listen to the fight.
Next morning when I woke up I wanted to puke. And I did. Quickly I decided it was time to get down to the village better sooner than later. With a stomach that I don't want to get into the details about, the hike was a pain in the ass (literally). I couldn't keep any water in my body and got quickly dehydrated. When I got down I had a high fever shivering and sweating like mad.
Since the hotel I stayed in before was fully booked they wanted me out. I was lying on the sofa in the TV-room 'to get some energy', not being able to stand up. The receptionist still tried to get me out of there, and she spoke to the manager who also said I had to leave. I didn't have the energy to get into a discussion about why I couldn't get out in the pouring rain with all my stuff and a high fever and diarrhea. I think the manager changed his mind when understood what condition I was in; my face wet by sweat and exhaustion. I got to stay on the couch. When I woke up the fever was down and I got some medicine from a doctor who proclaimed food poisoning. Of course. It's always a matter of time before you get it in India, I've been there before - that's why I put this at the end of the trip...
Ps. One more thing: The rental of two tents + two sleeping bags + 2 dinners + 2 breakfasts + 1 wollen hat + 1 pair of wollen socks + plenty of drinks and snacks, came down at the bargain of 13 € (900 rupees) + food poisoning. And you know what - it was worth it!
So when we met a group of Americans who invited us to stay over the night in their camp on top of the mountain, we accepted their invitation. When we got there the sun was about to set. We were about 12 people up there not believing our minds! Being above the clouds, watching birds with a wingspan broader than a tall man quietly gliding by, surrounded by goats, sheep and cows, watching the most beautiful sunset I ever saw in my life. I don't think I ever felt so happy.
Later on we were sitting around the campfire, getting a delicious (madly poisonous I found out later) Indian dinner with vegetables, dal, rice, chapatis and chai masala. I was quite suspicious, since the mountain people who lived up there cooked the food in a shed and it was no spring water on the top - they had to carry the water up with donkeys - which probably didn't improve the hygiene in the kitchen. But I didn't want to be rude, and it was wonderful after the hike.
The group up there were social workers from Louisiana, their professor took his students to India every year for different charity work. One of his students called Mike, knew Tibetan to Thupteans delight, so they had a long conversation.
It's really cold in the mountains at night, I bought a hat and socks up there, sleeping in all my clothes + a thick sleeping bag which kept me warm. I fell asleep to an Indian couple arguing loudly in their shed (keeping everyone awake for about two hours wondering what they acctually argued about) and the rest of the locals playing drums singing around the campfire trying to not listen to the fight.
Next morning when I woke up I wanted to puke. And I did. Quickly I decided it was time to get down to the village better sooner than later. With a stomach that I don't want to get into the details about, the hike was a pain in the ass (literally). I couldn't keep any water in my body and got quickly dehydrated. When I got down I had a high fever shivering and sweating like mad.
Since the hotel I stayed in before was fully booked they wanted me out. I was lying on the sofa in the TV-room 'to get some energy', not being able to stand up. The receptionist still tried to get me out of there, and she spoke to the manager who also said I had to leave. I didn't have the energy to get into a discussion about why I couldn't get out in the pouring rain with all my stuff and a high fever and diarrhea. I think the manager changed his mind when understood what condition I was in; my face wet by sweat and exhaustion. I got to stay on the couch. When I woke up the fever was down and I got some medicine from a doctor who proclaimed food poisoning. Of course. It's always a matter of time before you get it in India, I've been there before - that's why I put this at the end of the trip...
Ps. One more thing: The rental of two tents + two sleeping bags + 2 dinners + 2 breakfasts + 1 wollen hat + 1 pair of wollen socks + plenty of drinks and snacks, came down at the bargain of 13 € (900 rupees) + food poisoning. And you know what - it was worth it!
Sunday, September 13
Holy Bakery
When I went to Dalai Lama's temple yesterday, I was shown downstairs in the basement by one of the smiling guys working there (you can't see how much everyone is smiling really, because of the masks! + as soon as I start filming they always try to look serious i.e stop smiling ;) and I found out that they're baking bread for a big puja celebration next week...in a couple of days you'll find out what it is...;)