A few photos to keep the blog alive!

Excitement in the last few days as His Holiness arrived back in McLeod Ganj.  The whole town turns up to greet him each time he returns, burning incense in the streets lining his route and holding out white welcome scarves.  As his car sped past we were just able to glimpse his unmistakeable beaming smile in the passenger seat.  He's teaching later this week so I've got my security pass and will be reserving my place in the temple the day before - apparently you need to take a cushion and a name tag and sellotape them to the floor to save your space!

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

The hill station of McLeod Ganj.

I've already broken my 'no trekking' resolution (surprise!) by hiking into the hills behind McLeod to the Guna Temple for a local Hindu festival.  A charity organises the treks every day to collect litter and try to encourage people not to drop rubbish in the first place.  At break time I found a nice shady corner and started eating my lunch.  I didn't realise this was en route to the goat sacrifice spot - I watched one poor goat being lead placidly up the steps surrounded by men with machetes.  It disappeared around the corner and a few minutes later it's head was brought back down the stairs in front of me......bon appetit!!

My 'colleagues' at Volunteer Tibet - Karuna (left) and Yeshi (right, the boss)

After two days at wood carving school this is beginning to take shape!  Progress reports will follow.

The Golden Temple at Amritsar