Manali

So much to report, but so little Internet access. Sorry, folks! A short run-down:

Dharamsala – An audience with HH the Gyalwa Karmapa and visits to his gompa (monastery) at Gyuto. Wonderful shopping, a hotel with terrific plumbing issues but a very sweet staff.

Sherab Ling Monastery – Generally everyone’s favorite place, set way up in the mountains. Very remote and peaceful. We stayed four nights, and could have stayed a month. Day trips to Tashi Jong and Bir monasteries. Yoga on the roof of the very clean and cheap guest house, where the food was simple and good.

Rewalsar/Tso Pema – This was more like the India I was expecting. Very poor. The electricity was on only in the evenings and early morning, and no running water most of the two days we were there. The steep, 45-minute hike to Padma Sambava’s cave was energizing and well worth it, but we could have used a shower afterward. Sure glad I brought all those wet wipes! We were lucky to get a bucket bath before we left yesterday.

Manali – This is where we are now. The shawl capitol of India. We visited a nunnery this morning, where Lama Dorjee’s (our teacher who is leading this trip) cousin is the abbess. Really beautiful setting, but very poor. Manali itself is a big tourist destination not just for westerners, but for people from South India escaping the heat. Very busy, decent shopping. Speedy (if unreliable) Internet at last!

We leave tomorrow back to Delhi – stopping along the way instead of trying to do it in one day this time. Thank goodness. I’m staying healthy and having a great time. Twisted my ankle last night, but it doesn’t seem to be serious. I was able to ice it immediately at the amazing restaurant we found down the hill from our hotel. (The hill with the hole I stepped in.) The worst thing has been the bus rides – hours of driving on switchback mountain roads that are incredibly beautiful, but really bumpy and hard on the equilibrium after awhile. So glad I brought Di-Gize essential oil, Susy. I’ve found it really, really essential for motion sickness!

I’m taking tons of pictures, which I will upload soon, but it may be when I get back to Dallas. I’ll see you all soon!