87. Always remember the biscuits

We decided to get out of town and walked up the ridge opposite - much more open than our previous walks so we had huge vistas of mountains, and across the valley to McLeod, and right down to the Kangra Valley and the plains.  Its good to see where you live from a distance, and put it in context in the landscape.  We were directed by goatherds and villagers who were all friendly and helpful, smiling at us, the women open and friendly, looking us in the eye and showing us their babies and pausing in their washing to greet us.

We chilled in the sun, dozing off on big rocks, and the walls of a little Hindu temple, revelling in the peace and space and the sound of monks chanting at the temple in McLeod, all the way across the valley.  We had a bit of an episode on the way down - coming back a slightly different way and all the paths just petered out on the side of a gorge.  The village we were aiming for was so close, on the other side of the valley.  And just so unattainable.  We couldn't get across.  After an hour or 2 of somewhat precarious scrambling we came across some boys who cheerfully showed us the way, we gave them a packet of biscuits and they were well pleased.

And yesterday was the best of all!  The Dalai Lama gave a short teaching in the main Temple.  It was wonderful to be there with him teaching his people, in his temple and enjoy the atmosphere with the crowd  there, and the amazing chanting which went on all day.  Here we all are....................