After a few days in Delhi I returned to the Himalayas. Delhi is not my cup of tea... at least as a traveler. I think the city would be pretty good to live as an expatriate, but there is a whole economy based on ripping off tourists in the city! Their network is vast and sophisticated! And after spending all day outside your nose and throat hurt from the pollution... the worst pollution I have ever seen in my life!
But enough about Delhi because I am back in Dharamsala. Today I attended some teachings given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself! You, the Dalai Lama, hordes of monks, and a thousand devotees all sitting outside in the sunlight on the plush grass beneath some evergreen trees. A cool autumn breeze is blowing as clouds bump up against the mighty Himalayan range in the distance and occasionally the shadow of a hawk dances across your face. There is something magical, something moving, something organic about a hundred Tibetan monks chanting and reciting mantras. It does something to you. You feel it in your soul. You get goosebumps and your hair stands on end.
Such a nice experience and it is all free of charge. He is giving a series of lectures on his faith over the next ten days and so I plan to attend each day that he is holding sessions. Might just be a real Buddhist the next time you see me. I'm a vegetarian now and who would have seen that one coming?
Also, I finished a really good book this week called White Tiger that dealt with the some of the realities working in India. In a similar vein as Slumdog Millionaire, this book portrays a more accurate picture of the reality that most Indians live and die in.
From cheeseburger lust to vegan??? Ummm interesting indeed. Understand the setting with the Dalai and all - but suspect some emotional responses triggered by the powerful shift in surroundings from Delhi to the pastoral serenity you now find yourself. That in itself would be comforting...... How many other "foreigners" are at these sessions?
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ReplyDeleteCertainly not vegan. My favorite thing about Indian food are the veg. omelets which you can get everywhere for about $.60. And about the foreigners... the place is chock-a-block full of doe-eyed middle aged white women. They reverently gaze upon the monks and dutifully follow every word and movement. As you may have guessed, the town is a hotbed for self-proclaimed yoga, reiki, meditation, acupuncture, and massage gurus practicing all sorts of ancient oriental techniques. Wanna get your chakra aligned-you can do it here in less time than it takes to negotiate a bus ticket. In Dharamsala, you cant swing a dead cat without hitting a new age type or their "teacher."
ReplyDeleteOk, just checking to see if all the curry is having some kind of effect – wondering if you were becoming another “doe eyed yank” which would have surprised me. The place sounds like Sedona AZ times 4. Both places do have in common a stunning backdrop as a stage for all the players for this kind of diorama. Will be interested to hear (over an IPA ) at some future time how the Dalai’s teachings complement – or conflict - with your core values and principles about life and humanity. Of course we here are focused on the BCS race to the top, and a few other things like a couple wars, health care, H1N1, unemployment, etc. Have a good veggie omelet on me!
ReplyDeleteToday's veg omlete included sand. Booo! The actual omlete shop owner was away and his brother, a tailor with a shop twenty yards away, was appointed cook. Afterwards he admited that his wife won't allow him to cook at home and so this was a tad new to him. I think you can strike pig flu from the list of things to worry about. I mean, you don't even wash your hands, so who are you trying to kid!
ReplyDeleteclean water is a precious resource, so I reserve it for its primary purpose, hydration! HIN1 seems to be not hitting us baby boomers as hard u less aged, so I worry not for me - but you poor age challenged folks.
ReplyDeleteNow you know why I enjoyed Dehli the first time I went because of the experience (except for the smell), but was not in love going back a 2nd time. My reprieve was Mussoorie where I spent 8 days - not too far from where you are in Dharmasala (maybe 150 km).
ReplyDeleteIts great you are getting to hear the Dalai Lama.
and btw I did not have a hand grenade in NOLA - it did look tasty, but I had to walk back to my hotel ;-) I did however have the "official cocktail of New orleans" - the sazerac. First taste not so good, but by the time I finished i had another!
I summarize Delhi as the distilled essence of India... If other areas are like a wine, Delhi is a shot. And that is why it can leave such a lingering bad taste for so many newcomers. Everything is more potent in Delhi and the drunk and dizzy mess can leave you with an Indian size hangover not soon forgotten.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the "official" cocktail of New Orleans, I've never heard of it or maybe I have. If I think hard about it I seem to remember it to be an old school cockail, something from the age of prohibition. Scotch or bourbon, bitter, with a little dash or sours? I didn't want to take the easy way out and wikipedia it.
Next time you go, check out the Carousel Bar a few Blocks closer to the river than Rue Boubon in Hotel Monteleone. Its a revolving bar that has fooled many a patron with its lazy, seasick rotations. They might serve you your next Sazerac.
The sazerac is rye, bitters and Pernod (at least at Mr. B's. and it is purported to be the or one of the first ever cocktails - but was originally made with Brandy.
ReplyDeleteHeres the deal: "On June 23, 2008 the LA House of Reps proclaimed the Sazerac as New Orleans' official cocktail." They actually had introduced legislation, but the Senate wouldn't approve it!