INDIA. ALMOST TIBET

We arrived here after a long old but well timed jouney from Jammu in Kashmir. When we boarded the bus in Pathankot we met and English couple (Michael and Kelly) who had had EXACTLY the same story to tell about the tour companies in Kashmir, what happend to us, happened to them too, but just one day earlier!
Michael had been to Mcleod Ganj before and was taking Kelly for her first time. They will be staying a month, lucky them!, we followed Michael to the hotel that he had stayed in before, as he really recomemnded it. Its was just north of Mcleod Ganj in a place called Bagsu (spelling?), and little higher up the mountain higher than bagsu itself. We had great views to compenstate the long walk up here.

Mcleod Ganj is where the Dalai Lama came when the Tibetans were exiled from China, and India took them in. He walked from China to to here, over the mountains and was followed by other Tibetans and Monks, So Mcleod Ganj is where the Dalai Lama set up his new base, he does teachings etc here occasionally, and he is here at the moment! Unfortunatly, due to our lack of time here (ARGH we wish we had known how chilled out it was!), we will probably not get to see him, and he will probably be very occupied anyway (to do any teachings) with everything that is going on in China at the moment, with all the Olympics vs Tibet stuff.
Mcleod Ganj itself is very touristy and full of market stalls, selling loads of tibetan stuff. Many places at the moment have items and campaigns to join about the olympic games whih is really worthwhile.
To make up for not seeing the great man, we spent loads of time walking up

and around the mountains of the area, where on Dal lake

we met a couple of Swedish girls, and as soon as we started to talk to them, we all just sat on the floor where we were and talked for ages। It was lovely and relaxing, then we all decided to go back together, as we were (kind of) staying in the same area. We walked through a school yard, which is a Tibetan Orphanage, for Tibetan Orphans or even children that have been sent by their families from Tibet, as they are the third child of that family (beacuse China has imposed its number of children per family on the Tibetan's). It was a lovely school, and there are quite a few Westerners giving English classes at the school occasionally.

A beautiful solution to a terrible situation.
We had a great evening with our four new friend on our last evening, and then a breakfat with them before we left. We are soo jealous of you guys still being there!