Goodbye India, it's been real....

Well, the Indian holiday is almost over now as we leave the cool Himalayan foothills tonight and endure a 14 hour bus ride, 18 hour train ride and then 4 hour flight. We’re not looking forward to the travelling as it will be through some of the hottest parts of India where the scorching summer heat is reaching +45C. Luckily on the train we are in an AC compartment – let’s hope it doesn’t break down. SE Asia here we come....

Manali

Our time in Manali was hampered by Miriam catching a cold and thus preventing us from doing some of the walks we had planned. This was no real problem though as our hotel was very good, the balcony view was awesome and even the room-service was better than average. For someone who has never been in snow (Brad), the alpine peaks beckoned and after Miriam’s cold had abated, we headed by bus to the nearest skiing slope to try and scavenge enough snow to make a snowman (or castle). Alas we were about a month too late and the only action on the slopes was zorbing and paragliding with the nearest snow a long way off. At least my favourite conversation piece is still intact – Northern Europeans/Americans are amazed by the fact that a well-travelled gentleman as myself has never been in snow…

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Awesome views from balcony – not bad for a $10 room

Momos (Tibetan Dumplings)

Long, strenuous walk up a hill and being rewarded with “Sound of Music” scenery

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Miriam’s cold (she’d recovered by the end)

Manali Cider – not nearly good enough

Lack of snow

Dharamsala / McLeod Ganj

Back in the 50’s things were getting a little bit hot for the Dalai Lama in Lhasa, Tibet so he decided to form a government-in-exile somewhere which turned out to be here in India. The town is at 2000m so escapes the relentless heat of the plains and has a pleasant, Tibetan feel. Large numbers of Tibetans have fled across the dangerous path between Tibet and India and most make their home here, waiting for the possibility of an independent Tibet so they can return home. Many of the cultural traditions and skills are being preserved here and the excellent museum (I’m usually not a big fan) offers an insight into an ancient society that sadly, might not be around for much longer. Having been to Lhasa, Tibet in 2007 I wish I had visited this place beforehand or at least read a few more books on the topic as to appreciate what I was seeing.

Since Miriam had been well for a few days, she decided to eat something toxic and then spent the next few days violently expelling it out. She’s really not had a good trip since the orphanage with 3 separate illnesses pretty much spanning the entire month away. As for myself I’ve been in good health most of time and have started to climb the nice, but predictable hotel room walls. This has been the most social of all places for me as I’ve had long talks with fellow Canadian, Iranian-German, Danish, American and Spanish travelers. The female part of a Canadian couple was feeling a bit like Miriam so the male part and I went for a great walk up a steep hill in manly fashion, neither of us daring to call it quits for fear of being un-manly. During the hike we discussed our deadly creatures and it’s been decided that bears, crocodiles and snakes are hardly worth worrying about but a badger-like critter called wolverines are just plain nasty.

Miriam eventually recovered and yesterday we went for a great walk, visiting 2 nearby towns and even played a bit of pool where Miriam soundly beat me twice in a row.

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Meeting lots of interesting people who have seen snow and can speak many languages

Learning about Tibetan history

Bacon & Eggs for breakfast….it’s been so long……

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Miriam sick…again

Met an elderly New Yorker with severe Parkinson’s disease – impacted me a bit

Missing out on seeing the Dalai Lama – Couldn’t go as Miriam was ill….