Dharamsala

Six of us traveled to Dharamsala, home to the Dalai Lama. Beginning with my first overnight second-class train trip, plus three hours of driving, we finally made it to the foothills of the Himalayas. Dharamsala is home to thousands of Tibetan refugees following the Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959. It is also a favorite spot for backpackers from all over the world looking for spiritual awakenings. For us, it was a welcome respite from the polluted air of Delhi, honking horns and craziness of a city of 16 million.

Stacey, Karen, Shannon and Ann hanging out at our mountainside cabins.

Tibetan monks and nuns fill this part of India. There are 3-4 monasteries in the area, as well as the Kalachakra Temple, used by the Dalai Lama for public teachings. These monks were washing and drying their robes in the river as we went hiking one day.

Prayer wheels inside the temple in Mcleod Ganj. Prayer wheels contain written prayers for the well-being of all sentient beings. Tibetans believe the prayers will be spread to the four winds by turning of the wheel. It was one of my favorite spots to go to each day.

This beautiful woman walked past me as I was sipping a cappuccino. I asked if I could take her picture. She pulled out a blessing for me to read. It brought tears to my eyes. On the paper it also explained that she is attempting to receive blessings from the Dalai Lama to attend his next public teachings in 2012.

Chai (spicy tea) huts are all along the trekking trails. And, of course, streams of prayer flags adorn the hills. Tibetans believe that the prayers and mantras that are block printed on the flags will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion for all.

You can even get a head or foot massage at one one of the tea houses along the way.

On our way back down to town, we just had to stop in a few roadside shops.

Inside Kalachakra Temple. Young monks practicing mental "sparring". The young monks are asked questions which, of course, I couldn't understand. But it was fascinating seeing their joyful faces responding to their daily teachings.

No, I did not see the Dalai Lama. But, I did have a wonderful, unexpected, blessing from the Karmapa, who is second in line, perhaps to replace the Dalai Lama. It is quite complicated and political. The Panchen Lama, who is next in line, has been missing (probably imprisoned by China) for 20 years. So, the Karmapa, who is only 24 years old, is in training for the appointment. The story of his escape from China is quite a story. Just Google for more information.

Little did I know, the Karmap sat in front of me on the plane back to Delhi. Then as I was sitting NEXT to him on the shuttle bus into the airport, several people surrounded him asking him for his blessing. So, I took out my newly purchased prayer beads and asked him to bless them for my grandson, Gage. What a moment...

His Holiness, the Karmapa, posing with a boy on the shuttle.

From Cooking Class to Tea and Spa

Friends and family back home often ask if I am lonely or get bored. NEVER! AES is a community of people who love to get together, all ages, all the time. I am too busy!

 Mary Catherine is a fabulous cook who invited several us over for a Saturday morning Middle Eastern cooking and eating class.

Fattoush

 This past Saturday Janet, from Bellevue, invited some of us over for tea and in-home spa treatments. In India, any service that you desire will come to your home. It is common to have pedicures, Indian head massages, yoga, etc. brought to your home for very reasonable prices. I recently began private yoga lessons twice/week in my apartment by Nirij, a very comical and sweet Nepalese man (don't get thinking...he's 30 and married!).

 

After my special pedicure, Janet took me to this amazing handmade paper store near her home. Oprah has shopped there as well as the Obamas last year!

 

UN Day and International Food Fair at AES

No One could have quite prepared me for the amazingly colorful gala events of UN Day on Friday at the elementary school and the International Food Fair the next day. Once again I am in awe of the ability of a single school to celebrate the diversity of its students in such a thoughtful and fun way!

Over 50 countries were represented by students.

Students wore traditional costumes from their native countries: Paraguay, Spain, India and China.

Scotland and Hungary. Those of us from the U.S. were mighty boring!

On Saturday close to 30 countries had booths selling ethnic foods for the AES International Food Fair. Everything from pirogis to Belgium waffles. The amount of work by parents was astounding.  And to top everything off, I won one of the huge baskets of goodies being raffled off. Great weekend.

Smog and the Crafts Museum

When I stepped out of the airport two weeks ago on my return back to Delhi, a  haze of smoke-filled air caught my lungs off guard. Had there been a huge fire somewhere in Delhi? Ah no, I had forgotten that the week-long celebration of Diwali included daily/nightly fireworks throughout this city of 16,000,000! So for the next few days I stayed inside as much as possible and got my air purifiers plugged in. Well, two weeks later it isn't much better due to the cooler (88 degrees) weather and people burning just about anything to cook and stay warm during the cooler evenings. I had been warned about the air in winter, but this is much worse than I could have imagined.

On a lighter note, my friend, Kris and I visited the Crafts Museum yesterday and ran into these wonderful creatures and the artist.

The artist of these wondeful creations happened to be there and explained his process. First he constructs animal-like figures out of styrofoam.

Then his helpers tear Indian cloth, soaked in water and glue, and place strip by strip onto the foam.









The exhibit is in honor of Children's Day, Nov. 14. Am hoping to take my students to see this extraordinary work.

Other great finds at the museum:

Traditional Indian wall painting of a tiger. Valorie, I see an art project hatching!

Terra cotta horse.



Trip Back to Bellingham

The early birth of my grandson, Gage, took me home unexpectedly to Bellingham three weeks ago. Thankfully, Gage was born a healthy, but tiny, five pounder. Shara and Dagan were amazingly strong and brought into my life the sweetest little boy.

I had the gift of staying at my dear friends' farm amidst a colorful fall setting. The fresh air and garden fresh food was so appreciated. Of course it was hard to say goodbye and return to India. But I will return soon for Christmas!