Case of the Mondays...

 The weekend proved terrific. I enjoy Buddhist philosophy class monday tru friday so I had some time in the middle of each day to play: obviously I had a great time running around dharamsala, teaching yoga and taking in the scenery. Yesterday my very funny British friend, Nick,and I walked up to a couple of Stupas (memorials) above Dharamkot, about three km up the hill from where I stay in McLeod. The views were stunning; as we got closer, prayer flags flew and decorated and prayed over the mountains. Little purple flowers on vines loved up on the rocky, cragged walls along the road, a sheer vallied drop with gorgeous exceptionally tall trees on the other side. As we approached the Stupas, these memorials here in the woods honor two monks, one Tibetan, one Italian, we come upon a cluster of houses. Monks and nuns live among beautiful trees to practice and delve into the craft of mediation. What an exceptional place to cleanse the mind and explore Buddhism. I feel a sense of calm and respect here.

Love exudes from the stupas  and cannot be avoided; you get a hit of power each time your eyes grace one of these whitewashed tombs of relics. Full of teachings and wordly passings, the Stupas are a holy place.  No wonder the monks choose to live here.  Its so quiet and lovely.  My friend and I continued our walk through the village of Dharamkot, obviously stopped for chai and talked with the shop owner. Walked through the village and down a beautiful path to the village of Bhagsu.  There is famous dessert here in Bhagsu and I got me some!  So good.  Caramelized condensed milk over sweet biscuits and chocolate on the top, frozen into bars.  I clearly need some now.

I actually eat dessert everyday, not much different than home, but the desserts here in Dharamsala are so good. Apple pie with warm custard and Tibetan Special bars with nuts and coconut over graham cracker crust covered in chocolate. That is why i am so happy.  The sugar overload I get myself into everyday.   This dragon and I are frineds because he gave me a cake.  Love him!  Just kidding, a friend and I went up to Dal Lake, a sacred lake where one can take a sacred dip into the murky green water.  Not as yummy as Bhagsu cake, I think I will pass.


I walk everywhere and everywhere there are views like this, maybe a little variation here and there. Sun in the morning and clouds and mist move in for the afternoon with rain showers to cleanse all of the jungled mountainous country.  There are houses and paddocks and little temples and trails all over the mountainsides.  Breathtaking, really.

Hindu temple, tiny and lovely on the hillside