My last day at Mount View. I move into H****’s unit tomorrow. There are things I will miss here. I have got to know some of the other residents and staff – a mix of Indian and Tibetan and they have included me in the chiacking that goes on, from floor to floor and balcony to balcony.
Nazu and Altaf live 2 floors below and insist on sharing their rice and lentils dinner at night. Last night it was so sweet. They had added a tiny chicken leg to my plate as a treat. They are always so pleased when they do something for me, like little kids. I will miss seeing them so often for H****’s place is the other side of town, on the outskirts and they work from 9am to 9:30pm. I shall miss the perfume from the night-scented cestrum hedge, but NOT the cow stalls. I shall miss being so close to the centre of things, but I will not miss the noise and constant barking of the feral dogs. Most of all I shall miss the view and the snowy mountains. But I shall meet more people as I walk a different road, and even now I am building up a wider circle of friends – Hello friends, not heart friends – Nazu says, but that is fine with me.
H**** will be away 6-8 weeks. When she comes back I will move into K***’s place, till about end of September. I am thinking about coming back to Australia then and sort out what to do. I still want to live here. My routine will have to change when I move. At present, I am still a bit disorganised. Help is needed, but it is so hard to pin down exactly what and where they need you, and appointments mean nothing.
Teachings finish this week. I have made it for at least half of each day. It’s getting into the Tantric stuff now. I find it hard enough to concentrate as it is with aches and pains from sitting so I have decided the read ‘The Treatise’ which might help me more. I’m a visual learner anyway and the translation reception is not always good on FM.
Melons, apricots, peaches and lichees are in abundance at present and taste like they used to years ago. There are also tiny little apples and pears that just fit on the palm of your hand. Seems a shame to take them away from their mothers, but they are a sweet mouthful.
There has been bad flooding in HP (Himachal Pradesh) but mostly around Simla (Shimla now). Maybe you read it on the news. About 400 tourists were evacuated and highways were cut. An early start to the monsoon, which was officially meant to start on the 24th July. We have had heavy rains most afternoons and nights, but it’s only a nuisance.
The ferretts/mongooses are becoming more visible. There is a mum and 3 babies scampering among the rubbish now. I can only get the Indian name so I don’t know exactly what they are. I was told today that leopards come down from the higher mountains in winter for warmth and food. I’d better stay skinny! They don’t come into town but are seen on the outskirts, but I suppose that depends on the situation. I will NOT go out after dark from the new places, though I shouldn’t be too cold while I am there.
Visited the Bhagsu Waterfall a few days back. I had heard so much about it, I expected something quiet and rural, but it was a hive of industry – tea shops, market stalls and street vendors. There is a big swimming pool right in the middle of it all this, fed by the falls. I was quite amused at the contradiction when all the fellas stripped down to underwear right where they stood and dived in. Considering how strict the Indians are with their women, there they were with nothing left to the imagination, while the women, of all ages, watched on and waited for them. <strong>THEY</strong> did not go in the water.
Moving has delayed this but to continue –
It has been raining constantly. The most inconvenient thing is trying to dry the clothes. If they could be spun dried, it would make it easier, but no such thing here. H****’s place is quite comfy, but the area spooks me. I keep seeing things or sensing something. The mists come up from the Valley about 2-3pm, added to the low clouds that drift past, it is quite spooky. I do not think I will move into K***’s place, though I will check it out for her regularly.
My mobile got stolen by the gypsies. I am always very careful, but they materialsed around me, when one of the numerous traffic jams had me hemmed in. I did not feel a thing, but the women keep jostling and the little toddlers do their thing.
I am still well and happy, but either the elastic in my pants has strteched, or I have lost more weight.
Lots of love always…