After the bus from Delhi dropped me off a few stops early in Dharamsala (so there was no one there to meet me), I stood on a strange street in a new place an briefly wondered what I was going to do next. In every travelling adventure there are moments when you stand there and all of a sudden it sinks in that you are in a foreign country and you have no idea how things actually work here. I had one of those moments. Then I pulled out my phone and called the project coordinator, Tenzin, and explained, roughly, where I was.
By the time he came to fetch me it was about 6:30am. There were two more volunteers arriving by plane at 1:30pm, so we had some time to kill. Tenzin took me for a walk, which was very welcome after 12 hours of sitting and then for some breakfast at a local cafe. After this Tenzin asked if I would like to attend morning prayers at the Dali Lama's temple.
After checking all electronic equipment and being searched (apparently there have been threats of terrorism) he graciously took me through the temple, showing me the various sections. I had a chance to turn the prayer wheels and then we sat in the main courtyard for prayers. The chanting was hypnotic. We stayed for about half an hour and then quietly left. Attached to the temple is the Dali Lama's residence when he is in India. The whole area is far more humble than I think I expected.
After we picked up the other two volunteers we drove two hours to Bir (pronounced "beer"). We are in the Bir Tibetan colony, which started as a refugee settlement in the early 1960's. Bir proper is mostly an Indian population, but the colony has a very mixed population made up of the Tibetans, Indians, and international long term visitors.
The vibe is very laid back and relaxed, with no one staring at you or strange men trying to take your picture. Surrounded by tea fields, prayer flags and the Himalayan Mountains, the area is like walking through a post card. I will be here for three weeks and I am very much looking forward to it.
By the time he came to fetch me it was about 6:30am. There were two more volunteers arriving by plane at 1:30pm, so we had some time to kill. Tenzin took me for a walk, which was very welcome after 12 hours of sitting and then for some breakfast at a local cafe. After this Tenzin asked if I would like to attend morning prayers at the Dali Lama's temple.
After checking all electronic equipment and being searched (apparently there have been threats of terrorism) he graciously took me through the temple, showing me the various sections. I had a chance to turn the prayer wheels and then we sat in the main courtyard for prayers. The chanting was hypnotic. We stayed for about half an hour and then quietly left. Attached to the temple is the Dali Lama's residence when he is in India. The whole area is far more humble than I think I expected.
After we picked up the other two volunteers we drove two hours to Bir (pronounced "beer"). We are in the Bir Tibetan colony, which started as a refugee settlement in the early 1960's. Bir proper is mostly an Indian population, but the colony has a very mixed population made up of the Tibetans, Indians, and international long term visitors.
The vibe is very laid back and relaxed, with no one staring at you or strange men trying to take your picture. Surrounded by tea fields, prayer flags and the Himalayan Mountains, the area is like walking through a post card. I will be here for three weeks and I am very much looking forward to it.