Siddu sleeps on the floor in the livingroom and gives me the bedroom. It is a cold night...even for me.
On the 21st of December, my first day here Siddu takes me out for breakfast and then we make arrangements to go to Mundgod to register for the Dalai Lamas teachings. He has offered to drive me there to do the registration. I am staying in Dharwad which is a suburb of Hubli and so we drive down to where the Tibetian settlement is.
We stop to have something to eat at a dhabas.
These are roadside restaurants that serve some pretty delicious food. And they really do here.
Once we have had lunch we head into the Tibetian protected area to register.
Siddu asks me (yeah the one without the cell phone or wifi) where I found out the Dalai Lama was coming. I told him on the internet. He said he didn't even know.
I am not surprised as it's not the first person who has said they have had no idea about the Dalai Lama's coming here to India.
As we get into the town of Mundgod there is no signs or anything. So Siddu asks where the Tibetian settlement is. It is only when we get into the settlement that you see the prayer flags an the banners welcoming the Dalai Lama here. So after being turned around a couple of times we find the correct police station where I have to register and then Siddu takes a couple of pictures of me and we head home.
Siddu asks a couple of questions on when the event starts and we are told it starts at 6 am and that people will be lining up at 4 am. !
We have a long drive home as Siddu is trying to give me the scenic tour of the area surrounding Hubli which is pretty much agriculture.
December 22nd. I get up at about 7 am and Siddu brings me to the bus station where I pick up a bus and head to Mundgod. There are many monks on the bus. It is an hour ride to Mundgod. Many police are posted along the way. In the town of Mundgod they have cordoned off the street and we must exit the bus. One monk engages me and asks where I am from. I tell him and then ask where he is from he says Tibet. I say I thought so. He and I share a laugh together. He asks me my name and I tell him and then he give me his, which I cannot pronounce, but say, 'that is a long name'. He smiles. He says that the Dalai Lama is arriving at about 1 pm and there are many people already lining the street. I get off and head off in a general direction away from the crowd as I want to explore a little - it is only 10 am.
I wonder down a street and am smiling at the locals. I meet a man who wants me to sit with him while I watch the basket weaving go on.
Then I head back just in time to see the Dalai Lama's entourage drive down the street and take a few pictures. It is 11 am.
I see a man and a woman on a motorcycle and she has a small baby. I say what a beautiful baby, and we begin to talk. He asks me where I am from and I ask him where he is from. I tell him I am here to see the Dalai Lama, and he says where are you staying. I say Hubli. He said that is so far away, come stay with me and my wife we stay in the Tibetian settlement camp 7. He give me his name and number. His name is Karma Tenzin...I am surprised. He says I believe it was Karma that we meet. Come stay with us.
I am told the Dalai Lama will rest today and will start his teachings tomorrow. So I am here at an internet cafe blogging ...and will head home shortly.
On the 21st of December, my first day here Siddu takes me out for breakfast and then we make arrangements to go to Mundgod to register for the Dalai Lamas teachings. He has offered to drive me there to do the registration. I am staying in Dharwad which is a suburb of Hubli and so we drive down to where the Tibetian settlement is.
We stop to have something to eat at a dhabas.
These are roadside restaurants that serve some pretty delicious food. And they really do here.
Once we have had lunch we head into the Tibetian protected area to register.
Siddu asks me (yeah the one without the cell phone or wifi) where I found out the Dalai Lama was coming. I told him on the internet. He said he didn't even know.
I am not surprised as it's not the first person who has said they have had no idea about the Dalai Lama's coming here to India.
As we get into the town of Mundgod there is no signs or anything. So Siddu asks where the Tibetian settlement is. It is only when we get into the settlement that you see the prayer flags an the banners welcoming the Dalai Lama here. So after being turned around a couple of times we find the correct police station where I have to register and then Siddu takes a couple of pictures of me and we head home.
Siddu asks a couple of questions on when the event starts and we are told it starts at 6 am and that people will be lining up at 4 am. !
We have a long drive home as Siddu is trying to give me the scenic tour of the area surrounding Hubli which is pretty much agriculture.
December 22nd. I get up at about 7 am and Siddu brings me to the bus station where I pick up a bus and head to Mundgod. There are many monks on the bus. It is an hour ride to Mundgod. Many police are posted along the way. In the town of Mundgod they have cordoned off the street and we must exit the bus. One monk engages me and asks where I am from. I tell him and then ask where he is from he says Tibet. I say I thought so. He and I share a laugh together. He asks me my name and I tell him and then he give me his, which I cannot pronounce, but say, 'that is a long name'. He smiles. He says that the Dalai Lama is arriving at about 1 pm and there are many people already lining the street. I get off and head off in a general direction away from the crowd as I want to explore a little - it is only 10 am.
I wonder down a street and am smiling at the locals. I meet a man who wants me to sit with him while I watch the basket weaving go on.
Then I head back just in time to see the Dalai Lama's entourage drive down the street and take a few pictures. It is 11 am.
I see a man and a woman on a motorcycle and she has a small baby. I say what a beautiful baby, and we begin to talk. He asks me where I am from and I ask him where he is from. I tell him I am here to see the Dalai Lama, and he says where are you staying. I say Hubli. He said that is so far away, come stay with me and my wife we stay in the Tibetian settlement camp 7. He give me his name and number. His name is Karma Tenzin...I am surprised. He says I believe it was Karma that we meet. Come stay with us.
I am told the Dalai Lama will rest today and will start his teachings tomorrow. So I am here at an internet cafe blogging ...and will head home shortly.
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