The normally sleepy village of Bhagsunag comes to life with a bang on the weekends. Or a band, to be precise…a marching band. They started about mid morning and have been going ever since. The main street leading to the temple and waterfall is jam-packed with visitors, eating food from roadside stalls, buying trinkets and woollen garments, enjoying the brilliant November sunshine. Thankfully, I only had a few things to pick up and didn’t have to brave the crowds for long.
I headed back toward my guest house and the restaurant where I’ve eaten the majority of my meals since arrival. Lo and behold, the bakery which never has more than a handful of customers (and often only me), was bustling. I got my usual seat in the dappled sunshine and got right to the serious business of people-watching. A few young couples, a painfully-thin young man in tattered clothing with hair almost to his waist, and a 50-something, scruffy character who said hi to the whole restaurant, rolled what looked like a joint and invited one of the local stray dogs to his table. He said she’s a really good dog but no one takes care of her. He then gave her a chunk of his cinnamon roll but she refused to eat it. So starving she is not, but I know what he means. She came over to my table for a bit of shade and it was all I could do to keep from petting her. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t chance it.
I head for Tushita Meditation Centre tomorrow. All electronic devices go into the safe on arrival, so I won’t even know who won the US election until the 15th (although maybe one of the monks will have pity on us and fill us in). It is also a silent retreat, with no speaking except to ask questions of the teacher or during the daily group discussion from 2-3. Buddha knows how this will go…
By the way, I met someone from Halifax the day before yesterday. And a young woman from Peru who knows where NS is because up until recently she worked for Scotiabank. Home is never far away.
Hi Susan! By now you are at the ashram and will be “tuned out” to the world happenings which may be a good thing in light of the US election results. I had seen a couple of your blogs but didn’t take the time to comment. I must say that as I read about your over-zealous taxi driver and the “slight electrocution” I couldn’t help but wonder, “What would Mum say?” Lucky for you she is in the dark until you tell the story in person! I hope that you are feeling better and able to sleep peacefully in your current digs. Thank you for your informative and always entertaining accounts of your travels. Love you!