Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Manali
Manali
Manali sits as a Himalayan getaway in the minds of Indians. It reminded me of BC the second I stepped onto the land. Rolling mountains that pierce the eye, with the sun twinkling off of high peaks covered in snow -- winter has arrived in India. One would never think so, but it is a place that you can find almost all winter sports within a few dozen miles -- skiing, HELI-skiing, snowboarding, mountain parachuting. Hardly the association one would usually have with travelling to India. I settled in a small lodge that was aptly titled the "Adventure Lodge" and was mainly a log cabin, freezing cold with a portable heater to make the space cozy. With the Himalaya mountain right at your doorstep, streams and fresh air the second you step out the door, it's hard to think that you are in India.
Travelling into the morning market, I could see the streets readying themselves for a parade. One could see flat caps on the heads of men, a sign that there are people of the mountains and Kashmir migrants who dwell here. I settled for an English style breakfast at a local cafe, much to my surprise having sat beside fairly social Italian backpackers. You know when you are just trying to decipher accents, and make out the subtleties of a person's rhythm, intonation, inflection to try to gather the clues as to where they are from? A small look at the excessive hand gesturing and I was fairly sure that they were Italian! We ended up chatting and they informed me of a small getaway that contained natural hot springs.... Hot Springs! The tale goes that these were the spring that Lord Rama used to bathe in with his guru...I would love to talk with all my deep friends about subjects of enlightenment, and the nature of the universe in this very pool, it was gorgeous. Segregated are the springs, male and female, and sharing the same spring they managed to divide the pool of water in two. Wow how indulgent and hot this water was, I felt subject to the extremes of pain and pleasure at once, my body a vehicle for chi!
All of this concluded with a walk in the forrest after losing my Italian compadres in the market, and went strolling to find a waterfall much talked about in the town. It was a leisurely saunter through the woods, occasionally passing locals, settlers and tourists who came to soak in the Manali/Visshist beauty. My experience in the woods was immediately amplified when a lone dog who had been following some Dutch tourists, decided to follow me into the woods. Cute and perhaps destined to find me, we strolled over small peaks and low-flying valleys until I reached the waterfall. I was surprised at the dexterity of the dog, I fed him some potato chips that I had, a small reward for this new accomplishment in our friendship. Haha! And as I saw the sun setting, I made my way down to Old Manali to catch a meal. The dog followed suite! I called him Beta, meaning "son" in Hindi. He made friends along the way also, as I snaked my way into town, now with a pack of 4 dogs following me! Having set foot in the restaurant the new dogs were promptly chased away, but not Beta, no he hid under my chair and I ate with a huge smile on my face. I said bye to my dog and hopped in a cab, heading for the night market. Sari and shawls were a big attraction in this part of India, so I purchased a highly coveted Kulla shawl for my mom before leaving the town. Soft, cuddly, goodness.
Delicious Fruit Wines - Kiwi, Mango, Strawberry, Apple!
My Italian friend Claudio!
I love how roads can by occupied by both cows and rickshaws, it's such a harmonious and humouring display!
Crystals and rare gem stones are special to the markets
Sacred Views and Landscapes
Manali sits as a Himalayan getaway in the minds of Indians. It reminded me of BC the second I stepped onto the land. Rolling mountains that pierce the eye, with the sun twinkling off of high peaks covered in snow -- winter has arrived in India. One would never think so, but it is a place that you can find almost all winter sports within a few dozen miles -- skiing, HELI-skiing, snowboarding, mountain parachuting. Hardly the association one would usually have with travelling to India. I settled in a small lodge that was aptly titled the "Adventure Lodge" and was mainly a log cabin, freezing cold with a portable heater to make the space cozy. With the Himalaya mountain right at your doorstep, streams and fresh air the second you step out the door, it's hard to think that you are in India.
Travelling into the morning market, I could see the streets readying themselves for a parade. One could see flat caps on the heads of men, a sign that there are people of the mountains and Kashmir migrants who dwell here. I settled for an English style breakfast at a local cafe, much to my surprise having sat beside fairly social Italian backpackers. You know when you are just trying to decipher accents, and make out the subtleties of a person's rhythm, intonation, inflection to try to gather the clues as to where they are from? A small look at the excessive hand gesturing and I was fairly sure that they were Italian! We ended up chatting and they informed me of a small getaway that contained natural hot springs.... Hot Springs! The tale goes that these were the spring that Lord Rama used to bathe in with his guru...I would love to talk with all my deep friends about subjects of enlightenment, and the nature of the universe in this very pool, it was gorgeous. Segregated are the springs, male and female, and sharing the same spring they managed to divide the pool of water in two. Wow how indulgent and hot this water was, I felt subject to the extremes of pain and pleasure at once, my body a vehicle for chi!
All of this concluded with a walk in the forrest after losing my Italian compadres in the market, and went strolling to find a waterfall much talked about in the town. It was a leisurely saunter through the woods, occasionally passing locals, settlers and tourists who came to soak in the Manali/Visshist beauty. My experience in the woods was immediately amplified when a lone dog who had been following some Dutch tourists, decided to follow me into the woods. Cute and perhaps destined to find me, we strolled over small peaks and low-flying valleys until I reached the waterfall. I was surprised at the dexterity of the dog, I fed him some potato chips that I had, a small reward for this new accomplishment in our friendship. Haha! And as I saw the sun setting, I made my way down to Old Manali to catch a meal. The dog followed suite! I called him Beta, meaning "son" in Hindi. He made friends along the way also, as I snaked my way into town, now with a pack of 4 dogs following me! Having set foot in the restaurant the new dogs were promptly chased away, but not Beta, no he hid under my chair and I ate with a huge smile on my face. I said bye to my dog and hopped in a cab, heading for the night market. Sari and shawls were a big attraction in this part of India, so I purchased a highly coveted Kulla shawl for my mom before leaving the town. Soft, cuddly, goodness.
Delicious Fruit Wines - Kiwi, Mango, Strawberry, Apple!
My Italian friend Claudio!
I love how roads can by occupied by both cows and rickshaws, it's such a harmonious and humouring display!
Crystals and rare gem stones are special to the markets
Sacred Views and Landscapes
Friday, March 4, 2011
Top 10 things to bring and buy for travelling to India
Top 10 things that you should bring to India upon reflection:
1. Warm Sleeping Bag
2. Portable Water Filtration device
3. Canada patch
4. Camera with extra memory sticks and batteries
5. Warm Socks
6. Portable pillow for loooong train rides
7. Sketchbook
8. Mosquito net - always comes in handy
9. Lonely Planet guide to India
10. Money on hand and money in a bank with low internation withdrawal fees
Things that come in handy, and are worth buying when you are in India:
1. English - Hindi Book of common phrases
2. Cell Phone - hook one up, buy a phone, it's dirt cheap!
3. Handmade journal for writing about all the amazing things you will see!
4. Travel mug for all the chai you will consume
5. A step down converter plug if you want to charge your North American device in India
6. Comfortable slippers
7. Incense to help make the hotel rooms cozy
8. Pudin Hara - natural mint tablets good for soothing the stomach when upset
9. Address book for all the fine travelers and people your WILL meet...also a calendar comes in handy
10.Alcohol wet cloths, nothings beats a good hand wipey wipe.
1. Warm Sleeping Bag
2. Portable Water Filtration device
3. Canada patch
4. Camera with extra memory sticks and batteries
5. Warm Socks
6. Portable pillow for loooong train rides
7. Sketchbook
8. Mosquito net - always comes in handy
9. Lonely Planet guide to India
10. Money on hand and money in a bank with low internation withdrawal fees
Things that come in handy, and are worth buying when you are in India:
1. English - Hindi Book of common phrases
2. Cell Phone - hook one up, buy a phone, it's dirt cheap!
3. Handmade journal for writing about all the amazing things you will see!
4. Travel mug for all the chai you will consume
5. A step down converter plug if you want to charge your North American device in India
6. Comfortable slippers
7. Incense to help make the hotel rooms cozy
8. Pudin Hara - natural mint tablets good for soothing the stomach when upset
9. Address book for all the fine travelers and people your WILL meet...also a calendar comes in handy
10.Alcohol wet cloths, nothings beats a good hand wipey wipe.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Dharamsala
My journey to Dharamsala began when a good Buddhist friend of mine informed me that he would be giving a lecture in early Decemeber and that monks from all over the world would be attending. Being that I was in Delhi at the time, I knew I had a long trek to make it into the Himalayn lands of Dharamsala.
When I lived in Vancouver attending university, I had the rare privilege of meeting him while he gave a blessing at a local temple. Standing for a photo op with local monks after giving his blessing of their Buddhist temple, through the crowds of people outside, he noticed me by the gates standing with my hands pointed in prayer towards him, and my eyes fixated on him with a smile. Immediately after the photo shoot, he look straight at me and walked with his humble abode towards me. Before I knew it, he was holding my hands within his and asking my name. "Your name?" he asked jovially. "Rahul" I replied stunned with joy. "Ahah Rahul, you are Indian?" "Yes!"..."haha Rahul!" he repeated and stared at me for 3 seconds but what felt like an eternity, and walked away. Buddha's only son's name was "Rahula"so I imagine, the name carries significance to the Buddhist faith as well.
With this memory strong in mind, I knew I was 'supposed' to see him this trip. I took the 10hr bus ride and listened to the final day of his 3-day lecture on the teachings of a Russian Buddhist monk, especially on the topic of chakras and meditation. The experience was divine and the setting for the Tibetan refuges in the mountain of India, couldn't be more ideal for introspection....
Where the Dalai Lama gives his talks and Dharshan in Dharamsala. No photos of his Holiness are permitted in Dharamsala due to safety.
Monks eating food after hearing their master speak. What a blessing it was to eat with these pilgrims from all over the world, after hearing the Dalai Lama give a lecture on chakras.
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