Update from McLeod Ganj

We've been having a great time here in McLeod Ganj. Originally, we had planned to stay one week at most but after 10 days, we're still not ready to leave. We've met some friends, both travelers and locals (this is an easy town to sink into). We went out the other night to a restaurant called Carpe Diem where live music is played and there is an open mic night. There were two Nepalese guys playing songs from Coldplay, Pink Floyd, etc. There is a monastery across the street and I can't tell you how funny it was to see monks dancing in the window to “We don't need no education; We don't need no thought control”. :)
We've been going to the HEC School in the evenings to speak English with local Tibetan refugees. We've met such interesting people, all with unique stories and backgrounds. One woman spoke about her trek to McLeod Ganj, a group of 42 which split into two groups when half of them refused to leave a sick woman behind because the weather was turning bad. The group that went ahead all made it to Katmandu safely, while those who stayed didn't fair too well. She explained that the snow was coming in so quickly that their footsteps would disappear immediately and unfortunately 2 children fell in the snow and were completely covered, they were never able to find them... By the time they arrived in Nepal, 6 others had perished along the way and many more had lost legs/fingers due to extreme temperatures. We continue to be truly amazed by the stories of the people who live here.

I've started my Reiki course and we've both started classes on meditation. It's been a great experience so far. We've met a friend Etienne who runs our favorite restaurant, Oogo's. The last couple of nights we've been drinking beers with him and playing card games. Etienne is also a Tibetan refugee; he escaped from Tibet because he would have been killed by the Chinese government for putting up political messages. He told us he would go out late at night to put up “Free Tibet" posters and Tibetan flags. He said he plans on going back when Tibet is free; explaining that if he went back now he would surely be killed.

Etienne is a good man, today he took us to the TCV (Tibetan Children's Village), which houses about 4,000 children (most who don't have any living family members). The children here are so incredibly sweet; we brought them candy and had lunch with them. Matt and Etienne played some hoops as well. During the two month holiday, 8 of the children from the TCV (six of them pictured here) stay with Etienne. Their faces light up when they see him, he bought them all lunch and then gave each child 50 rupees before leaving for books and pens. We are going shopping with him on Monday to buy some winter clothes for them. If anyone would like to donate to the TCV, information is here.

On Friday we attended a teaching from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. This was truly an experience of a lifetime. He gave a 3 hour teaching on “The Three Principal Paths”, during which bread and butter tea (milk, melted butter and salt) was served by the monks. The best part was when he walked through the monastery within only a few feet from us, clasped his hands and smiled at us directly (we both had goose bumps and teary eyes). We never thought we would ever have the chance to see such a great man, and we were lucky enough to also receive a teaching from him.
The Hindi festival, Diwali, was celebrated the same evening with candles and butter lamps being lit (to symbolize prosperity) and kids setting off fireworks in the streets (to ward off evil spirits). We lit some off ourselves and had a great evening at Oogo's.
Tonight we will be going out with Etienne and a couple from Ireland to Excite (a local dance club down the street from our guest house). We are posting some pictures from our day at the TCV and with our friend Etienne.

Last but not least, some recipes for Donna's Uncle Bill for Momo's :)