Spent a week in Dharamsala, home of the Tibettan Government in exile!
Bought lots of cool Tibettan stuff, including a yak's wool hat!
Also went dayhiking to a waterfall-laundromat and viewpoint-teashop!
Beyond lay the snowline, and some impassable passes,
But we wanted to trek, so we asked some questions,
And were told it was "not possible" to cross the mountains,
We would have to content ourselves with foothill fountains!
So we signed ourselves up for a week-long trek,
But no sooner had we left than our guide out-let
The existence of a lower pass, some 40k east,
Which would let us cross the formidable peaks!
In a brash decision, we abandoned one plan,
And embraced another, or my name ain't Stan.
Four buses later, plus a rumbling jeep,
We began our climb up over the peaks!
For half and two days we approached valley's head,
Drinking tea in cave huts and sleeping in cow sheds.
Eating fresh rice and dal from the guides' pressure cooker,
Washing in snow streams and looking for hookers!
On a brilliant morning the pass we did reach,
The wind was chilly, the views beyond speech.
We took some photos, the donned our rain gear,
For a sliding descent down the mountain's rear!
That night we took shelter in a little ghost town,
The wind blew hard, but we did not frown.
Instead we put our minds in helicopter mode,
And rapped off the twilight of our haunted abode.
Next day we learned of a bridge's demise,
Which meant a long walk and a train through the skies.
Over the raging Ravi river we pulled ourselves
And slept that night amidst puppy smells!
Then 'twas the last day, quick as can be,
We rose with the dawn and drank some tea.
Then we walked a few k's, past some kids with a cow,
To a quaint sunny village where a jeep we found!
The village was quiet, small, and clean,
It smelled of new wood, dung, and gasoline.
Surrounding the houses were terraced wheat fields,
Apple orchards, grazing lands, and walnut trees!
But we couldn't stay long, 'cause the jeep was waiting,
To carry us down, hopefully without fainting,
A precipitous road filled with many holes,
But we got through okay: Shiva saved our souls!
That night we spent in our guide's village,
Playing with children and drinking homemade swillage.
We awoke early to catch a long bumpy bus,
Back to Dharamsala it transported us!
So now we are here, back where we started,
This morning with our guides we parted.
In half an hour I've a Lama to meet,
So I'll say goodbye: so-long my sweets!
No comments:
Post a Comment