Goodbye Delhi - Hello Bir

We have had a fantastic week in Dehli, and the sights we have seen are just so numerous to mention and difficult to put into words, definetly a go to place for a cultural and life experience. Our host family, especially Serita was a gem, nothing was too much trouble, she offered great advice and entertainment. Grandad of the house kept us on the straight and narrow with advice on how to use our favorite way to wash by bucket shower, to giving us pointers on bargaining in the markets. He didn't miss a thing. 

We are also proud to report that we survived Delhi without getting 'Delhi Belly' - yippee.

Monday 

We arrived in Bir (pronounced Beer) after a 12 hour bus ride from Delhi to Daramasala, which was very  eventful. A roadwork detour saw the bus stuck in mud for about  an hour with many locals shouting gesturing and so forth, and not much happening. Did I  mention that this was 3.30 am, traffic honking, total chaos, very India. We arrived very tired and ready for breakfast. We didn't eat dinner,

We weren't  brave enough to eat at the roadside stop for an evening meal.
 Daramasala is the home of the Dali Lama, and after something to eat we went to his monastery with our guide Dawa, this was quite exciting to think that we have managed to view his home and place of worship. There was heavy security to enter this monastery which wasn't totally surprising though a shame as it is a place of worship and prayer. After a short wander around we taxied a further 2 hours to Bir. 

Bir is the home of mainly Tibetan refugees who are mostly born in India, but if I have understood correctly must apply for a refugee permit to remain in India every five years. It is a very difficult situation as they are well settled here with homes, family, businesses and jobs. They consider this their home. 

Many Tibetan families send their boys to become monks as this is a pathway for then to have a happy and enlightenment in their life without the stress of making a living in the area, seems a simplistic explanation but this is how it has been explained to me. 

There is an amazing view from my room with rooftops and hundreds of prayer flags in the foreground, in the distance you can look down two different valleys to foothills and high country. Behind us are the mountains and the beginning of the Himalayas. Hence the temperture is quite cold.

We start teaching young monks English today at a monestry. It is hard to get any information about age, what they already know, so again it will be the box of chocolates (it's a big box Stephanie).

The food here is different again from the yummy curries of Delhi, lots of veges, lentils and rice but not as flavoursome. Our home stay family are of course very inviting and friendly. We have other volunteers here from Australia, Russia, Ireland, USA, Canada, Scotland, UK and Alaska, so quite a mix.

Photos and writing may be a bit out of order as Jim's laptop is being trouble some.