Dharamshala

"It's all part of the experience", words of wisdom imparted by the all wise Liz (roomie #1)  this being said of the 12 hour bus ride in which the a/c didn't work, worked too well and then fell on my head while in a deep sleep.  All part of the experience indeed.  

Finally, after jolting around on a bus for 12 hours we made it to our final destination, Dharmashala.  We were about 2 hours late and our hotel called to make sure we were OK!  What a relief it was knowing we had a safe, comfortable place to land before we were off again!  We headed to the Tourist Office to get info on the areas of interest and were pleasantly surprised to find a guide that for a small fee take us to any areas we wanted to go.  Deciding on the tea gardens, hot springs, a temple and an ancient fort we were on our way!  Before we left however, I purchase a North Face backpack for Rs/ 300 (6 bucks)!!!!!!!

Dharamshala is a tiny mountain town yet everyone with a car drives a huge, decked out SUV, including our driver.  I don't know how he got us down the steep mountain to our first stop, the tea gardens.  

Purchasing tea in the garden

Waking through the tea tree trail

Hiking in the tea

Our next stop was a temple built out of one big rock!  The Rock Temple was amazing!  With the best part being we were the ONLY people there!  

The shrine room

I loved this little hidden stairwell

Our poor driver was so great, he just hung out while we ran about taking millions of pictures!!  

Now, reader beware... Our next stop were natural hot springs down a long hiking trail.  I was looking forward to this as I am getting healthier and stronger and was looking forward to the hike.  So, we started down.  I felt great, the view was beautiful then...oops... I slipped!  Sarah (roomie #2) heard me fall and turned back to check if I was ok.  I had actually fallen off a cliff and was hanging on to a bunch of shrubbery to keep from falling.  The guide and Liz were ahead of us so Sarah had to lay down on the trail and help me up so she wouldn't fall!!!!!!!!  When I was finally back on the trail we both realized just how bad that could have been.  Yikes.  I then told the others to go on without me as I am known for falling!  The tour guide took me back to the SUV and waited for the others.  I was disappointed to have to stay back but really, who else do you know that has broken their tush more than once?  The girls were sweet and cam back early even though I was fine listening to music in the car.  Next stop...

This fort is absolutely incredible, its size, age and structure are breathtaking!  There are passageways, staircases and tunnels throughout to navigate and hike.

Cute girls!!

Dharamshala is where the Dalai Lama was exiled from China.  I can't believe I had the opportunity to visit his temple!  We were especially lucky as monks from all over the region were coming to a conference.  The temple is usually closed off to visitors but because of this special conference, the public was allowed in!!!!!

This is interesting. I didn't know this but apparently the Pancheen Lama or the next chosen Dalai Lama was kidnapped as a child and taken back to China.  He is now an adolescent and has not been able to train with the Dalai Lama or monks.  He is the youngest ever political prisoner. 

I can't believe I am turning the prayer scrolls at the Dalai Lama's temple.  Even now as I write this I am getting chills.

This lovely monk let us use his bathroom when we walked into his room thinking it was the bathroom. 

A scared lake by the temple used for bathing (think, holy water)

After the temple we started a hike to a waterfall.  On the trail we came across a....

On the trail

There are never any women swimming or joining in recreation

 

Fantastic trip, fantastic girls!!