I <3 Tibetans
This past weekend I went to McLeod Gange, which is where the exiled Tibetan government is located. It was awesome.
After a 12 hour, overnight bus ride, we finally arrived in McLeod Gange. We would not have made it if it wasn't for a couple travel fairy godmothers and a very nice monk. During breakfast, Laura started bashing Bush with a couple of other tourists and they ended up inviting us to a private audience with the Karmapa. Apparently, there was a Conference of Grandmothers going on that weekend. 13 Grandmothers from different indigenous groups (Native American, Tibetan, Aboriginal...) meet up twice a year and discuss different topics about the world. It was pretty cool. So, we joined the conference of about 100 people and listened to the Karmapa speak about his grandmother who was completely blind. It was awesome. The Karmapa is 4th in line behind the Dalai Lama. He's 26 and at the age of 17 he had to escape from Tibet. After his speech, we got in line and were blessed by him.
Afterwards, we did some sightseeing with two Mexican women who were part of the conference. They were very nice. I bought a very expensive dress as an early birthday/you-never-have-to-take-the MCATS-again(!!!!)-present. We sat in the garden eating momos (tibetan dumplings) and just chatting. It was a lovely day.
The next day, I went on a walk by myself around the main temple/Dalai Lama's residence. It was a very quaint walk. Tons of tibetan prayer flags strewn throughout the forest. I was following a couple of monks when it started raining. Fortunately, I came across a little temple and was able to wait out the storm with a little Tibetan girl. I think she had Down's syndrome and she was extremely sweet. She was practicing her numbers in my journal and she was very good! When she got to 65 she skipped to 100. Eh, those numbers in between were never important anyways.
The next morning we made our way up to the Tibetan Children's Village. It was the 46th anniversary of its founding. I saw the Dalai Lama! Well, it was from across the track and he was sitting up on a balcony. When he was walking up, all the Tibetan children began singing. It was so nice. Technically, I did hear the Dalai Lama speak. It was all in Tibetan, however. I only understood one word, "compassion" because that was the only word in English. I really wish I had understood more.
But yes, it was a great weekend. But the bus ride back was the worst experience ever. I don't want to romanticize all my experiences. We were sitting in the very back and every time we went over any kind of bump, we flew up out of our seats. We were also sitting with a BUNCH of seedy men. Probably not the safest situation for us and I would NEVER do it again. In hour nine of the bus ride, our bus broke down. I thought we never would make it home, but we finally did. Yes, India is harsh when it wants to be. But then again, if I wanted cushy travel I would have gone to Europe. If I had wanted to go to a place where women are treated as equals, well, I would have to go to the moon. Again, the problems of the world are everywhere, they're just more apparent in India. It takes A Fine Balance to deal with all of India.
After my experience, I really, really want to go to Tibet. Apparently, the best place to get a visa is good, old Hong Kong(!) and the best time to visit is May to June (!!). I think the fates are telling me I should go....Anyone up for a trip to Lhasa?
Eid Mubarak!
After a 12 hour, overnight bus ride, we finally arrived in McLeod Gange. We would not have made it if it wasn't for a couple travel fairy godmothers and a very nice monk. During breakfast, Laura started bashing Bush with a couple of other tourists and they ended up inviting us to a private audience with the Karmapa. Apparently, there was a Conference of Grandmothers going on that weekend. 13 Grandmothers from different indigenous groups (Native American, Tibetan, Aboriginal...) meet up twice a year and discuss different topics about the world. It was pretty cool. So, we joined the conference of about 100 people and listened to the Karmapa speak about his grandmother who was completely blind. It was awesome. The Karmapa is 4th in line behind the Dalai Lama. He's 26 and at the age of 17 he had to escape from Tibet. After his speech, we got in line and were blessed by him.
Afterwards, we did some sightseeing with two Mexican women who were part of the conference. They were very nice. I bought a very expensive dress as an early birthday/you-never-have-to-take-the MCATS-again(!!!!)-present. We sat in the garden eating momos (tibetan dumplings) and just chatting. It was a lovely day.
The next day, I went on a walk by myself around the main temple/Dalai Lama's residence. It was a very quaint walk. Tons of tibetan prayer flags strewn throughout the forest. I was following a couple of monks when it started raining. Fortunately, I came across a little temple and was able to wait out the storm with a little Tibetan girl. I think she had Down's syndrome and she was extremely sweet. She was practicing her numbers in my journal and she was very good! When she got to 65 she skipped to 100. Eh, those numbers in between were never important anyways.
The next morning we made our way up to the Tibetan Children's Village. It was the 46th anniversary of its founding. I saw the Dalai Lama! Well, it was from across the track and he was sitting up on a balcony. When he was walking up, all the Tibetan children began singing. It was so nice. Technically, I did hear the Dalai Lama speak. It was all in Tibetan, however. I only understood one word, "compassion" because that was the only word in English. I really wish I had understood more.
But yes, it was a great weekend. But the bus ride back was the worst experience ever. I don't want to romanticize all my experiences. We were sitting in the very back and every time we went over any kind of bump, we flew up out of our seats. We were also sitting with a BUNCH of seedy men. Probably not the safest situation for us and I would NEVER do it again. In hour nine of the bus ride, our bus broke down. I thought we never would make it home, but we finally did. Yes, India is harsh when it wants to be. But then again, if I wanted cushy travel I would have gone to Europe. If I had wanted to go to a place where women are treated as equals, well, I would have to go to the moon. Again, the problems of the world are everywhere, they're just more apparent in India. It takes A Fine Balance to deal with all of India.
After my experience, I really, really want to go to Tibet. Apparently, the best place to get a visa is good, old Hong Kong(!) and the best time to visit is May to June (!!). I think the fates are telling me I should go....Anyone up for a trip to Lhasa?
Eid Mubarak!
posted by Jenna Furley | 5:53 AM
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