Hey there!
Today Shanti left the Dev Bala family farm in outer Dharamsala, where we stayed for five rejuventating days. Dev Bala sits right on the foothills of the Himalayas, which means you can stand in the garden, gazing out over luscious semi-tropical fields and farms in the valley, and turn your head to look at the snowcapped peaks right above you. The family at the farm grows what seemed like everything imaginable to us–bananas, papayas, cherries, starfruit, spinach, pumpkin, squash, coriander, turmeric, ginger, hibiscus, roses, peonies, the list goes on and on. They made us homemade bread and fresh curd and buffalo butter every day as well. Some of our activities this week included lovely walks through the surrounding wheat fields, a bumpy open top jeep ride to a hot springs IN A TEMPLE, a visit to a nunnery, playing frisbee, meeting a Tibetan activist and watching a documentary about Tibet, lots of reading in the garden, extended breaks for chai, and doing henna with our host sister, Priyanka.
Today we're dealing with Indian bureaucracy trying to get travel permits and shaky internet connection before we continue to Bir.
In good spirits and health, sending lots of love for everyone at home,
Shanti