The owner of the café was a very kind and friendly woman. She asked me if I wanted to go for a walk around the Dalai Lama temple in the morning. My loneliness responded before my pride could. The word “yes” immediately flew out of my mouth as my voice tried not to drown in the river of my emotions. I met with her at 10:00am and we began our stroll. She thumbed her prayer beads, and we talked about Tibetan culture and Buddhism. The forest was draped in colorful prayer flags, which are believed to spiritually cleanse the wind. We walked along the trail and spun the prayer wheels clockwise. Each prayer wheel has a mantra written on it, and to spin the prayer wheel is to recite the mantra, each revolution another repetition. We stopped for tea and talked about her work. She has been hired to bake a large and extravagant cake as a gift for one of the high-status monks in the area. We continued down the path and eventually went our separate ways.
I ate another incredible Tibetan noodle soup dish, and then a vigorous downpour of hail and rain began. It has been on and off all day. The rain clouds roll off the snowcapped Himalayan mountains and dump the freezing rain on the town. The streets flood, and an eerie silence sits beneath the violent downpour. When the clouds pass and calm returns, people move like ants through the town, resuming their day. The sun quickly warms the earth, and the cold wet ground creates thick steam clouds that rise up into the sky. The wind pulls them down over the crest of the hills. When a cool breeze rolls in and the warmth of the sky goes dim, the people know another storm cloud is coming – take shelter.
I’m entering my final week in India. I can see the light. I’m no longer afflicted by the absurdity of logistics. I only have two more destinations: Amritsar, and Delhi. The iron is in the fire, and it’s red-hot.
Wishing you an exciting tour ahead. Of course, the best part of it is behind you.. the serene waters, the idle peaceful village atmosphere, the woods, rickety buses, exotic soups, momos, thukpa and above all friendly people.
thank you for taking me there i truly feel as tho' i made the visit too i felt it