Apparently
we started to have the bad habit of getting up late (but it feels SO good!!).
Once again we ate breakfast at the hotel, same as yesterday (omelette and
toasts), we also moved room, we swapped to the one we were supposed to have
originally, much smaller and with no view (too bad). After giving our laundry
to wash, we chose to start with Patricia and John (the senior Irish couple)’s
recommendation to walk around the Tibetan complex. We should see prayer flags
and wheels.
We headed
towards the bottom of town where the Tibetan complex can be found, we followed
Patricia’s directions, going past the complex and follow the road, finally take
a right when we see a dirt path among the trees.
 |
| Start of the path |
The paths
is so serene. You can see prayer flags (actually called: “wind horses”, because
they carry the prayer messages with the wind”) everywhere. Today is a grey day,
nor cold nor wet. We followed the path and encountered more Wind Horses, carved
and coloured stones with inscriptions on them and prayer wheels. And a few
monkeys at the beginning of the path, I was very wary… (see the monkey episode
in Shimla)
We crossed
path with a monk meditating, we tried not to disturb him too much and remained
quiet. I wished we could have had someone with us to explain everything we were
looking at. Explain the ways Tibetan monks pray and live, what do the carved
stone means, why we keep seeing the same colours (white but also blue, yellow,
red and green). The more we travel the more questions we have.
We reached
some kind of temple half way down the path. It contained some explanations
about the Tibetan crisis, what the Chinese did and even a wall of martyrs.
Tibetans who self-immolated for the freedom of their country. It was intense
and extremely sad at the same time. Why would people kill themselves for a
cause, how will it solve it? This place was really thought provoking and made
me wondered what was the Chinese side of the story.
After our
tour was over, we went inside the Tibetan complex (called Tsuglagkhang) which
holds the Dalaï Lama residence, the Government-in-Exile of Tibet, a museum and
the Tsuglagkhang Temple. Photos are not allowed inside, so I only have this
photo from the outside of the complex. We walked around the complex, went into
the temple and try to go to the museum but it was closed.
For Lunch
we had a Vegetarian Indian Thali composed of: Rajmah (Kidney beans), mix veg.,
Raita, 2 Rotis, Rice, Achar, Salad, Papad. It was really nice, and gave us the
fuel needed to continue with our day. Unfortunately the weather did not
improve, still grey and not great.
Went back
through town heading to the north this time and try to see the TIPA (Tibetan
Institute of Performing Arts). Our first choice was to go to the nearby village
of Dharamkot but the principal reason to go is to see the view of the valley.
On a grey day like today there was no point.
On your way
to the TIPA, we passed the Namgyal Temple (whose colours were so vibrant in the
grey sky), a desert place (I had to get some chocolate cake!!) and we bumped
into Patricia and John again, coming back from therapeutic massages). After
discussing for a while on the edge of the road we parted. Kept going north but
failing in finding the TIPA, instead we saw and heard some eagles.
We head
back to the centre of town to find a taxi to go to Kullu tomorrow, with a stop
in Rewalsar. We got 3 quotes and decided to pick a taxi from a taxi stand. It
will cost us Rs 5000 and will pick up us at 7 am tomorrow morning near our
hotel.
We ate
dinner; packed and went to bed early, a long day tomorrow is awaiting.
Slept in a
smaller double room in Ram Yoga House in McLeodGanj.
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