Who Let the Dogs Out?

Suffered a minor electrocution in the shower this afternoon. It was my own fault, fiddling around with knobs trying to get some hot water. I should have just stuck with tradition and resigned myself to the fact that my first few showers in India are cold until someone shows me the ropes. Every system is different, so there’s no such thing as learning from experience.

My first full day in Bhagsu Nag was purposely a quiet one. I picked up a bit of a cold on one of the flights and was feeling kinda lowly this morning. Coupled with the jet lag, it was best to take it easy. Luckily, my room here at Silvermoon House is enormous, clean and comfortable. I have a small balcony which basks in sun pretty much all day, and I spent several hours there, engrossed in my book and acclimatizing and enjoying the sights and sounds of everyday life in the mountains.

Dharamshala itself is several kms down the mountain from me. Macleod Ganj, home of the Dalai Lama, is about 20 minutes away, and I think I’ll take a walk in that direction tomorrow provided I’m feeling better. The road is a typical one for the mountains, narrow with deep gullies on either side for rain run-off. It is also filled with ruts, pack horses, taxis and the occasional cow. It’s incredibly steep, as I’ve found from the few strolls I’ve taken since arrival yesterday.

Lots of Tibetan people here, and Tibetan restaurants, and that means momos! I haven’t had momos in ages and there’s a street vendor at the corner who makes ’em. I’ll celebrate Diwali tomorrow with an order of the spicy ones. Speaking of food, found a good restaurant right next door which – bonus – also sells toilet paper.

One final note…the large packs of dogs that spend their days sleeping in the sunshine in this town spend their nights fighting and barking nonstop. I’m thinking of buying a gun…