NEMY, McCLEOD GANJ, INDIA

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2011

McLEOD GANJ,

I guess the idea of travelling is that things should seem foreign to you.  Well McLeod Ganj seems to me foreign in an already foreign land. Have come and gone and am not sure what to make of this place.

It is the official home of His Holiest the Dali Lama, Monks and all Tibetans who have ventured here. With that I expected a place of certain spiritualty, which it has but along side narrow alleys and laneways of merchants packed side-to-side selling most everything one can imagine. It has endless stalls of beautiful clothes right from local Tibetan ware, Kashmiri shawls to designer labels. This is no place were one would go hungry. One thing that our hosts have nailed is sweets. Everywhere we have travelled, sweet shops take priority. Can’t find a toilet but how about some coconut dreams.

This place had dessert counters sticking into the streets that would make Whistler proud.

We ate Tibetan but the choices were limitless.

What seemed most prominent is Internet cafés.  Everywhere with young and old reaching out to the world.

It seemed odd that amongst all who have wondered here, and there seemed many who were still wondering, walk Monks. Respectfully dressed in robes, many carrying or plugged into I phones and BlackBerrys.  Once when sending out our mailing I sat beside a Monk who was surfing whatever monks surf.

McLeod Ganj Rapid Fire-

- Rooms were (Paul’s rating 4/10) (View 6.5/10. 1.5 deduction for there is GARBAGE everywhere. Everywhere meaning India.) but $15.00/cdn night

Kate and girls went to Tibetan cooking class. When we get home, Momos party.

The word on the street was the Dali Lama was in North America during our visit. Go figure.

Have been handing out little Canadian trinkets as we travel. Leaving a trial of friends young and old.

Here when one walks, you are going either significantly up or down. At 2000+m, best to know where you are going.

I am not the one to write about Tibetan history or for that matter any history. I leave that to the History Channel.  522 on Bell ExpressVu.

Side Track- The History Channel ran a series this winter titled “Ice Road Truckers- Deadliest Roads. It’s about 3-4 North American truck drivers who had come to India to haul goods. Mainly to Shimla and beyond. Shimla we shall travel to. Beyond Hyla has travelled. Spoiler Alert.  This and any other traffic related videos. Not suitable viewing for Grandmothers.

Regarding history, just in this brief first week we have walked on ground at the

the Indian/Pakistan border that we visited saw the passing of over ten million people during “Partition” and the creation of Pakistan. Upwards of one million dying on route. You were told in the morning that you are leaving your home, not to return.  That evening you are part of forced exodus to lands unknown. Still evident are machine gun and tank bunkers.

We stood in peace at the Golden temple, which not 30 years ago was politically/militarily occupied. The resolution ultimately lead to the assignation of Indira Gandhi.

Here as the Tibetan’s live without a homeland, there struggles continue.  Ten years ago the sitting Dali Lama appointed his successor.  A six-year-old boy.  Shortly after he and his family vanished.

May the entire world know peace and democracy.