Last night i slept very soundly (in my bed, inside my sleeping bag, with the quilt on top) irrespective of the bhangra music, the sound of what sounded like walls being moved, and occasional explosions from the nearby quarry...until 11.30 when my body thought it was morning.
It wasn't. I then slept until 2.30, and it still wasn't morning. Then the dog chorus started.
All across the valley dogs howled in tormented harmony followed by the crying and howling of something very large and probably feline (though i really cant be sure) and i thought: yep, i'm in Dharamshala!
I played Jimi Hendrix on my mp3 player for an hour or so, just to quiet things down, then tried again to sleep. 8am and i'm up and about and feeling finally something like alive we went for a very tasty breakfast lemon/banana pancake and black tea!
After getting ourselves sorted we made our way downhill to the Dalai Lamas temple via Geden Choeling Nunnery to see some of Diane's friends. The nunnery fell victim to a landslide last year and the nuns are currently trying to rebuild, adding accomodation for the older nuns and create a space for debate. Debating is very important for both Buddhist nuns and monks as everyday they learn various topics of philosophy and then in the evening working in pairs they debate to proove that they have understood what they were taught earlier in the day. (Its very entertaining to watch as debates can often get quite heated!) At present they have nowhere to debate and are having to do it on cold concrete floors which is creating quite serious health problems for many. We met Seldon, the nunnery secretary who is about 4 foot high and very very cheery, offering us Tibetan tea while explaining that the nuns are currently (aside from being engaged in building work) preparing for Losar/New Year and so EVERYTHING is being dusted down, cleaned and washed in preparation for the celebrations and ceremonies. Tomorrow we're going to go back and give them a hand.
We eventually visit the Dalai Lamas temple, this is kind of like the Tibetan equivalent of a village hall in some ways, besides teachings and ceremonies the local community use it for exhibitions, films on the evening, pretty much all sorts!
It wasn't. I then slept until 2.30, and it still wasn't morning. Then the dog chorus started.
All across the valley dogs howled in tormented harmony followed by the crying and howling of something very large and probably feline (though i really cant be sure) and i thought: yep, i'm in Dharamshala!
I played Jimi Hendrix on my mp3 player for an hour or so, just to quiet things down, then tried again to sleep. 8am and i'm up and about and feeling finally something like alive we went for a very tasty breakfast lemon/banana pancake and black tea!
View of the Kangra Valley from McLeod Ganj.
After getting ourselves sorted we made our way downhill to the Dalai Lamas temple via Geden Choeling Nunnery to see some of Diane's friends. The nunnery fell victim to a landslide last year and the nuns are currently trying to rebuild, adding accomodation for the older nuns and create a space for debate. Debating is very important for both Buddhist nuns and monks as everyday they learn various topics of philosophy and then in the evening working in pairs they debate to proove that they have understood what they were taught earlier in the day. (Its very entertaining to watch as debates can often get quite heated!) At present they have nowhere to debate and are having to do it on cold concrete floors which is creating quite serious health problems for many. We met Seldon, the nunnery secretary who is about 4 foot high and very very cheery, offering us Tibetan tea while explaining that the nuns are currently (aside from being engaged in building work) preparing for Losar/New Year and so EVERYTHING is being dusted down, cleaned and washed in preparation for the celebrations and ceremonies. Tomorrow we're going to go back and give them a hand.
Building work at Geden Choling Nunnery.
We eventually visit the Dalai Lamas temple, this is kind of like the Tibetan equivalent of a village hall in some ways, besides teachings and ceremonies the local community use it for exhibitions, films on the evening, pretty much all sorts!
