Being busy in India

Today is my 28th day in India. Life had been a little on the go because of Losar (Tibetan New Year) and with my Tibetan friend’s wedding and also the wedding of the friendly neighbourhood vegetable seller. It was my first time attending a Tibetan and Indian wedding. Also took time off to attend the Graduation Day at the Shedra and yesterday was the start of the 3rd International Gongchig Conference, also at the Shedra. Samdung Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile, graced the occasion. Also had the company of some Malaysian friends (thanks for all the goodies you left behind Hun & Steven) who dropped by for 10 days. Lunches and dinners also were time stealers.

3rd International Gongchig Conference. Samdung Rinpoche arrival

Shedra graduation

Losar with Khenchen Rinpoche

Paldon La's house for lunch. Amarula wine from South Africa

At The Orchard

Losar with Tenzin La and family

Lhamo La's wedding (Tibetan style)

DKI had a tea party for us

Indian wedding

Teachings with Khenchen Rinpoche in his room

Tea with Khenpo Rangdol and family

This year’s spring is as cold as winter in November last year. There were 2 days where the mountains behind the Library were snow capped in the early mornings. Thunder roared and the wind howled. Dorje’s (the Library’s dog) barkings were silenced by the howling wind. Even up to last week we had to keep warm. Now the sun is out. We are enjoying Malaysian weather with cool, crisp wind (like in Cameron Highlands).

Bidding farewell to 6 Canada bound Lamas

Lunch at Lhamo La's house

This trip had been eventful – with all the above happenings plus the opportunity of meeting this little boy who is stricken with polio. I put a post in Facebook seeking sponsorship to get him a walking aid and within minutes a friend took up the full sponsorship (thanks Kong). I also received some contributions for the family to rebuild their house in Ladakh which was washed away during August 2010 mudslide

My new found friend

In another 10 days I will be heading to Amritsar, to the Golden Temple. Then I will be back into the real world – homebound. I look forward to that as I will have lots to catch up with my grandson.

Festivities and travels

Golden Temple in Amritsar ( Picture taken by Lhamo La/Paldon La)

Christmas is fast approaching and then the new year will come around. Before long it will be Chinese Losar in February. From now till then it will be shopping for Christmas, for Chinese Losar and also for the Tibetan Losar in March. It adds a little colour to an otherwise mundane life.

I cant even remember when was the last time I took a holiday with my daughter. It must have been at least 5 years or even more. This Christmas we will be spending it out of town on a 3 day - 2 night holiday with a treasure hunt thrown in.

I will be heading down south for the Chinese Losar to celebrate with my siblings. It will be for about 5 to 7 days. That means I will be back in town on or about 10 February. That leaves me only 3 days to do my packing to India.

To let you into a secret ...... I am almost done with my packing to India whilst my other two trips remain at zero.

In all my travels to India I have never been to Amritsar. Will like to spend a few days in Amritsar this coming trip. And look out for the pictures of the Golden Temple. Promise you loads of pictures.

For now I have to take care of the cough that has bugged me since my return from Yushu in August.

Only in India

With the new airport in operation we thought our ride from Indira Ghandi International Airport to the city will be a breeze, possibly with all the ring roads in place. After years of visiting India, I still have a story to tell.
As we notoriously weave through the roads in and around Delhi the mind numbing sounds of horns, grime and filth enveloped us. Unlike most cities in the world, the comedic road scenes in India fill many a traveler’s heart with memories that last a life time. Only in India can one witness buses, cars, auto-rickshaws, bicycles, motor bikes, tractors, horse drawn carts, ox carts towed by people, buffalo carts, elephants, cows, pigs, goats, dogs, pedestrians, camels and what have you, all on the same road. Hilarously you will see crowds of traffic dodging the cows while they arrogantly make their way across the street to the nearest garbage pile or standing in the middle of the road chewing on some yesterday’s papers.

Can you see the goat at the back of the car?

Only in India will you see the entrepreneur skill of man. It intrigued me when I saw a row of entrepreneurs along an overhead bridge near Manju Tilla (Majnu-ka-tilla), each with a bathroom weighing scale. Two of my friends stood on the scales and the charges for the two of them were 3 Indian Rupees (RM0.20). The ear cleaner, shoe polisher, barber, the street girls and boys, etc make up the rest of these entrepreneurs.

On our way down from Dehra Dun to Delhi our driver pulled by the side of the road and showed a sign which I took it that he wanted to make a phone call (showing his little finger with the thumb slightly protruding). The first thing that came to my mind was “Oh no, not again.” I thought he was pulling by the side of the road to call his friends for direction to Manju Tilla. I was cracking at the sides when my Tibetan friend told me that he wanted to have a pee. The next day at the airport I asked a security officer where can I find the washroom and seeing his confused look I decided to show him the little finger sign. He immediately lit up and pointed me to the “Ladies” sign. Only in India!

All said and done, I had another memorable stay. See you again India.

Diwali In India

5 November 2010

Today is Diwali. For lunch I cooked “lap cheong” (sausage) rice and the old time favourite, ABC soup. Our Tibetan friends came with Buff Momo (buffalo meat). Our lunch table crowd has grown from 5 in 2009 to 7 this year, with the addition of 2 new staff at the library. Most of the monks will have their lunch outdoor taking advantage of and basking in the warm sunlight on a cool afternoon.

The sweets (desserts) I bought from Kumar Sweet Shop was nothing short of being delicious. It kind of tastes the same but then again each piece tastes a tad different. I like the little green round ones the best. Not too sweet and not too milky too.

At Kulhan, the whole night, starting from around 7.00pm to way past midnight, was filled with colourful lights and thunderous sound from the fireworks and crackers. From my room looking towards hilltop Mussoorie, this honeymoon resort came alive with most abodes lighted up and fireworks displaying various colours in their outbursts.

Though I did not get into the bazaar I am sure it must have been filled with much gaiety and abundance as they welcome Lakshimi to bless their homes

My days in Kulhan

This year my cooking utensils, electric stove have changed. I have a new rice cooker, new bowls and new mugs (with compliments from our Tibetan friends) minus ladles and a real classic gas stove. Using this stove was fun. I had to squat down to do the cooking and it made me laugh so much. This egg has a big load of great laughter and happy energies. The only "set back" is when you squat down to cook, it gives you the feel of wanting go to the toilet hahahaha.

The stove actually sits on top of the gas tank and it comes in one piece. Very convenient. Filling in gas for this tank costs only Rupees 150 (RM10.00).

Hello from India

Arrived Delhi on 30 October. The new airport is up and running and it gives India a fresh outlook. But once you get out of the airport, you get back into "India" again. Despite of the recent Commonwealth Games, nothing has really changed in India.

Stayed the night at MT. Next day caught the train to Kulhan. Holiness will be away till May next year and that leaves some kind of a vacuum at Songtsen.

Diwali is on Friday (5 October) and we may be going to town to join in the celebrations which will last whole night long. And by then I hope to be able to upload some pictures (the internet connection at Songtsen has improved greatly so uploading of pictures should pose no problem now).

Till next update - cheers!!

India - pre departure (Grandma & grandson)

Ryan's comfort zone - a cardboard box

This morning as I was going downstairs with my “food bag” to India, Ryan came out from his room after his shower, and asked to be walked down the stairs. Grandma and grandson had a classic conversation as we held hands and walked down the stairs

Ryan : Popo, just now where were you?
Grandma : Downstairs loh
Ryan : What you doing downstairs?
Grandma : Popo doing packing
Ryan : Go where?
Grandma : India loh
Ryan : AGAIN! (with a drag in his voice)

Minutes later …..

Ryan : Popo, what is this?
Grandma : Ikan bilis (anchovies)
Ryan : For what?
Grandma : Make soup loh
Ryan : Popo, India got no cups and spoon. You better bring your own, (what gave him the idea that India is so backward)

He ran to the kitchen to tell and ask his mummy to get Popo a cup and spoon. Mummy hinted that soup should be taken from a bowl but he insisted it’s from a cup. We adjourned back to the living hall where Ryan sat down and posed me this question

Ryan : Popo, you go to India to sit like this ah ? (in a meditative pose)

How on earth does a 3 year old boy know that his grandma goes to India to sit like this? I thought mummy must have told him that in answer to his many questions but mummy vouched she had never made any mention before.

I await more questions from Ryan from now to my departure.

Lunch with tibetan friends

Lunch at Lhamo-la's house

This write up is specially for Tra Ring-po. Was not able to do the loading whilst in India because of the slow internet line. So here it is ....... specially for you.

My tibetan friends and I

Ping Sha

This is a tibetan dish. The name denotes the bonding of a great friendship. Ping is actually glass noodles and sha is meat (in tibetan language).

Fried noodles

Fried mixed vegetables

Fish

Ras Malai

Ras malai is an indian dessert/delicacy. It is made of curd and cheese and it is definitely not one of my favourite or rather will never be something that I can like. The best is found at Kumar Sweets Shop just off Baltan Bazaar.

Kumar

Have You Seen A Moon At 11.00AM - In The Morning???

The moon is just above the big tree

Have you ever seen a moon at 11.00am in the morning up in the sky with the sun beating on your back? This picture was taken just outside Songsten in India. in November this year. Last year there was a smiling moon over Songsten.

Take a look at this other picture. It is only 5.30pm and it is just as good as 7.00 or 8.00pm. It is taken from my room balcony at Songsten just last week.

Easy Sex Transplant

Male papaya plant with longish fruits

Female plant with round fruits

I have heard of male and female papaya plants and I am sure most of you would have heard of that too but what I am going to reveal to you, I am sure, is going to be something you have not heard of before.

We know that male papaya plants bloom flowers but the flowers do not eventually bear fruits. Most times, we just let the papaya plant be what they may be or at times we have it chopped down. Yesterday we went for lunch at a Tibetan friend’s house. We were there last year too (around the same time of the year) but we did not notice the two papaya plants right in front of her house or maybe they were rather tiny then. The two plants were not any taller than a human being and both were bearing fruits. One bears longish papayas and the other more rounded ones.

Notice the iron that has been punched through the plant

The one that bears the longish fruit is supposedly to be a male papaya plant. This plant underwent a “sex transplant” by a very simple process of having an iron nail hammered into the trunk, near to the base of the plant. And that took care of the fruits.

Spastic Internet Line

My daughter is going to cry foul when she knows what I cooked for dinner. Preserved vegetable (char choy) with tomatoes and onion soup, BBraised potatoes with hard boiled eggsand the ‘crème de la crème” is fried long beans with sambal belachan.


And all this is happening in India. I can only feel guilty when she tells me that her meal is the same old stuff packed off the shops after work and to know that little Ryan does not have his regular soup every night.

The bananas look green but the taste is great

After dinner went online. Felt truly spastic with the internet line running at 230.4kbps. You can actually go brush your teeth and by the time you get back to your computer, your page is still struggling to be uploaded. But then, what else can you do in India at night? Have patience, pay a little more and wait for your page to get uploaded and maybe possibly send off an email or two if you are lucky.

My 'life saving' modem. How can I live without you????

Happiness Is Seeing A Good Ole Friend

I walked to Jangchub Ling in the morning with the hope of seeing a friend I last saw in December 2007. With some enquiries here and there we still got no where as not many people knew the person we were looking for. He had been in retreat in Almora since December 2007 and this year he had the permission of His Holiness to attend teachings in Nepal. We managed to locate his room through Khenchen Rinpoche but luck was not with us as he was not in his room.

While having lunch a fellow mate alerted us that the person we wanted to see was at Drikung College Institute, just a small run out of the Library. He was preparing to leave India for Nepal with a group of Khenpos from DKI.

Rushed to DKI and I was really overwhelmed when I saw him. He looked good albeit being thinner, had shoulder length hair, with moustache and a long beard. He was a picture of a wise old man. He gave each of us a big, huge hug and we got down to chatting and chattering. And in a fleeting moment he was asked to board the 4 Wheel Drive that will take them to the Dehra Dun Railway Station to head on to Gorakphur for their next leg of their journey to Nepal.

This person is no other than Konchok Yeshe aka Chen Cong Si aka Mr S H Chooi, our former Ratnashri Malaysia President.

Back In Inida

Picture taken just outside my room

C'est la vie

Arrived Delhi on 2 November close to midnight and stayed a night at the usual Tibetan Colony Settlement. Early next morning headed for Dehra Dun. Arrived around 5.00pm.

It felt so good to see our tibetan friends and they made us feel so warm and welcomed. They went to great lengths of even having fruits in the room with 2 bottles of mineral water. rice cooker and stove and everything that is needed to make one feel at home. Thank you!

This morning went to meet up with Khenchen Rinpoche at Jangchub Ling and later went down town to stock up on groceries.

Now a little time to relax before going to Khenpo Rangdol's place for tea at 5.00pm

India Is Like Home To Me Though I Am Chinese

Time just passes us by without us even noticing it. It is again the time of the year for me to get ready. I have been packing and unpacking and re-packing for the past few days. This year's packing is a little more fun as I know exactly what I still have in India, what I need to bring and what I dont need to get. I dont need to bring my rice cooker as I will have one to use when I arrive. And my pots and pans are still waiting for me in India. Basically it's buying foodstuff like ikan bilis, dried shrimps, 'lap cheong', shrimp sambal belachan ...... a long list to go.

The past 2 to 3 weeks had been depressing with news of Wamlung Monastery needing financial assistance for repair works and with the quakes and the tsunami in various parts of the world. Sometimes I wish I can do more than what I am doing now but I suppose all of us have our limitations to everything. So let's live and let live! I give thanks to all the people who brings cheer into my life

My 3 Months In India - What Did I Do ???

Journeying high into the Himalayas is a dream for many in search of spiritual fulfillment. Since year 2000, year after year, this has taken me to the abode of the snows, hopping from one holy place to another - spending just enough time to place your toileteries out only to pack them up again next.

In year 2008 I spent my time there with a difference. For once I did not back pack. I went with a roller suitcase. I spent my 3 months in India at a peaceful respite where the teeming life of the city lies just on the horizon of a half hour bus ride away. The routine for the 3 months was waking up at 7.00am each morning and going to bed sometimes as early as 7.30pm. There was no television, no newspapers, infrequent sms and calls from family members and friends back home.

Our only interaction was with those who stayed there and the villagers of that place. On occasional weekends we made fleeting trips to nearby holy places of Rishikesh, Haridwar and Clement Town. Just for a "look-see" of the talked about Sahastradhara - meaning a Thousand Drops -(the suburb that I stayed in), we took a 10-15 mintues bus ride to spend an easy lazy afternoon there.

My days of pilgrimage hopping is over. Now it's all about soaking in the culture and life of the places we visit and the people we meet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXRk2Kmcg4Q (Howling Thunderstorm in India)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9py5TCXotu0 (Hand Turned Ferris Wheel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl_YbReKiY0 (Sahastradhara Water Droplets)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmmL2490bnw (Noodle Making By Tibetan Folks)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cws02iBqra4 (Haridwar - people bathing in the Ganges)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eagMeWL64s (Ladakhi New Year in India)

No, this dog is not for sale!!!! Only the jeans and shoes are

Last day of student life

Snow-capped Sahastradhra mountains just behind where I stayed


My home for 3 months

Guard House


Where monks gather in the evenings to catch up

Awaiting the gas man at the Tibetan Colony

Pumping water from the ground

Post Box

Haridwar

Haridwar

By the roadside - where they call Home

Home

Clement Town - another Tibetan Settlement

Clement Town

Our dining hall

My pantry

My kitchen

Holiness' residence

Lessons

Sahastradhara

Sahastradhara - sulphur water

Our tibetan friends

Tibetan home

Ladakhi New Year with Holiness

Holiness cutting cake

Rishikesh

Rishikesh

The break of morn

My sitting room

Village children carrying water for their daily use

A "tuition center" run by a Drikung Kagyu nun

Audience with Holiness