Lots of things have happened since I last posted. While I'd love to let my narrative skills run-a-muck, for the sake of time I'm going to let pictures do the talking in this post. Though I'm not sure that my photography skills are on par with my story telling...you be the judge.

As I mentioned in my last post, AIIS took us on a field trip to Sanganer to see a cloth dying and paper making factory. Here are some pictures from that trip.

Now, would you prefer send your shipment via Camel or "Goods Carrier" Truck?

Jessie and I took a trip to Dharamsala/ McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh. Dharamsala was a small mountain village until the British started to use it as a hill station. Basically, men of rank and means would send their daughters and wives to Dharamsala during the Indian Summer so that they could escape the heat and enjoy the beautiful mountains. Interestingly, the word "Himalayas" means "house of snow" in Hindi/ Sanskrit. Currently McLeod Ganj, which is 5km north of Dharamsala but essentially the same town, is the headquarters of the Tibeten Government in exile. As a result, the town attracts a great deal of Tibetan refugees and western backpackers alike.

I did spot a Chinese tourists in the Tibet Museum. The museum documents China's systematic aggression towards Tibet and honors those injured and lost in the struggle. I really felt for him. I remember how difficult it was for me when I first visited Wounded Knee and was faced with the atrocities committed against Native Americans by my own US Government. It's not as if I'm directly responsible for what's been done to the Lakotah, nor is the Chinese tourist directly responsible for what's happening in Tibet, but one can't help but feel a great deal culpability. From my limited experience studying in China, I found that Chinese people don't question the actions of their government as we do in the US. I admire the Chinese tourist because he sought out disconcerting knowledge when he could have remained in the comforts of ignorance.

Okay, back to happy thoughts. Jessie and I stayed in the Green Hotel. The room, food, and service was everything we could ask for. The whole town has a great view of the mountains. We basicly just enjoyed the atmosphere, ate a variety of different cuisines, made friends with other tourists and locals, shopped for Tibeten handicrafts, and saw Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama's complex which included his residence, the Tibet Museaum, and a beautiful temple. Actually, it may by my favorite Bhuddhist temple yet, which is saying a lot considering how many I visited in China and those I've seen in India already.

We also went paragliding, which didn't work out too well for me. However, it did give me an opportunity to visit the clinic in McLeod Ganj where they care for Tibeten Refugees and TB patients. I'm doing just fine thank's to the nice Doctor there, and I would recommend paragliding to all interested. It's very cool!

Here are some pictures from the McLeod Ganj portion of the trip:








Next, we were off to Amritsar, the holy sight of Sikhism. After McLeod Ganj, Amritsar seemed hectic and hot. However, the Golden Temple is AMAZING, and we found some other cool sights to enjoy as well. We visited a Hindu cave temple which was not a cave at all. In fact, the temple was reminiscent of a carnival Fun House. We also traveled to the border crossing between Pakistan and India to witness the daily closing of the border ceremony. To say there in animosity between Pakistan and India is an understatement. The entire event is a crazy piece of theater between guards on respective sides who essentially mirror each other's movements. On the Indian side there is a MC who gets the crowd going, shouting patriotic slogans and intuits across the border. It was like being at a sports game where the rivalry between the teams is great.

Golden Temple

Crazy Hindu Cave Temple

India-Pakistan Border

I have lots more to share, but not the time to do it right now. Lots of love,
Shelly