Rae= Not in Tibet
Well, from the comments on the last post, I can tell that I confused some of you, with all of the Tibetan community talk. I didn’t exactly describe the place we have come to, so I’ll tell you a little bit now.
We are living (soon we will move into our new little house, where we will really be “living” instead of “guesting”) in a small village to the north of McLeod Ganj, far north in India. McLeod Ganj is the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile. There is a huge Tibetan refugee community here. So although we are still in India, we are surrounded by a combination of Tibetan women, men, and children, Buddhist monks, and of course the local Himalayan Indian people.
As for what we are doing here… here is a link to the larger story, and I’ll add that we were really pleased with the way our meditation as an informal Shekina Meditation Center was going in Goa, and we hope to continue that here. Our thoughts are to remain with the international traveling community, and so our experience of India is always an international one, at once getting to know the local people but also spending much of our time with travelers. It is not always the most comfortable place to be, but we are always thankful for all the friendships we have with people here. Shekina means “the Divine Presence” and my friend Cate wrote something recently which describes Shekina Meditation as follows:
By use of the Holy Scriptures and other Christ centered literature, we intend to create a safe place for the Divine Presence to speak to the individual heart, while also speaking to us as a group seeking the Divine Presence.
For the next few months, which are the hot season (hot? I feel like I was hot the whole time I was there!) and the monsoon in Goa, we plan to be up north here, feeling out what kind of meditation gathering we could have in this area. All that said, here are some pictures. I’m sad that my camera quit on me while I was in the midst of traveling, but Chinua’s is still alive and well, so I’ll show you a few of my favorites that he took. This is a pretty good shot of what Kid A was like the entire time we were on the train. I have never seen energy like the energy that a six-year-old boy has. Renee is dying to get off the train and away from the boy energy.
Leafy, on the other hand, is a pensive traveler.
As am I.
Solo is a squishable traveler with potato curry on his shirt.
YaYa’s attitude toward the food here has done a 180° turn since we’ve been in India. It’s good therapy for picky kids. Also, the bathroom therapy has been successful. She will now use any kind of toilet in any bathroom, with only a mild amount of complaint. She still doesn’t like it when she has to use the bathroom after someone takes a shower, though.
She was shoveling this food down, while saying, “Wasn’t that dahl SO GOOD, Mama?” Here’s a tip, though. Don’t assume that train food is included in your ticket if someone doesn’t specifically tell you that it is. Otherwise, when the train food walla comes around for payment, you’ll be giving each other blank looks while patting your empty pockets. (Not that it costs THAT much.) Here’s a shot near McLeod Ganj.
And another. Gorgeous, just gorgeous.
13 comments
What a gorgeous place to perch!
WOW.
Okay, forget Goa, I want to come there. Now. Seriously, it is one of my favorite places on earth. (So far, anyway.) Such beauty. Eat some tsama porridge and think of me! Much love to you all. And I love the pics.
Thank you for the re-run, I needed that
And that sounds like an amazing city. I had never heard of it, so you and wikipedia taught me a lot today.
And I love the top photo.
I loved the update and the photos – am hungry for more photos!!! I enjoy your entries so much. Thanks for taking the time to bring us all along on your adventures.
Looks like a lovely place. Thanks for sharing your troubles….makes us feel a little closer.
Not much, but a little closer!
I feel each and every picture – but I especially FEEL Renee.
I don’t even know you, but I might have to squoosh Solo if I ever saw him. Those lips! How can you stand it?
Exactly what blackbird said.
Oh, and please pass on this message to Renee:
“Just got notification of change of venue for Wednesday dance class stop am on my way stop not Tibet stop I know that now stop have been practicing my shimmy stop see you soon” Eleanor xxxx
I get it now! (where you all are at) And I want to squish Solo too : ). blessings!
Speechless….at the beauty of the region…and the beauty of the children….at the AWESOMENESS of their dreads.
Off to catch up on the rest. Best.
Emily.
“You’ve got to see this site,” my sister said when I picked up the phone. “This could have been you… in another life!”
So, I paid you a little visit. Actually, I spent about two hours touring your site, falling in love with your life! You have a lovely way of looking at your world. And what a precious family!
I was born in Bangalore, India — nearly 40 years ago! Ack. I went back several times as a child. And I’m hearing the call again. I hope to volunteer at a mission to save little girls (redeemingindia.org) when my kids get a bit older.
I, too, have a husband I adore and two beautiful biracial children — Selah is 2-1/2 and Judah is 5 months.
Thank you for sharing your life, so sincerely, so poetically. I’ll continue to follow your journey. May God richly bless your desire to know Him!!!
we lived in mcleod ganj for a year. my daughter turned three there. i loved it and miss it and am always scheming on ways to go back. are you in dharamkot? if so, there is a great pizza restaurant up there! enjoy.
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