Scardey Tourist

"Bihar is backwards, they are the second poorest state in the country and people get regularly mugged in the trains there. I would go anywhere in the country alone but not Bihar. Why do you want to go to Bhodgaya?" Ummm, because I'm supposed to be a Buddhist? "How about Dharamsala?"

Bhodgaya is located in the eastern plains of India where the Bhudda obtained enlightenment. That area along with several cities in the area is a place of interest for me--but I am a scardey tourist. The news of backwards states with maoist rebels regularly holding up people in the trains and the cars has me worried. "And you're a girl! traveling alone!" When I was doing research for India it was always an understanding on my part that I would not have as easy of a time traveling around as I have in other parts of the world. First off, they have no side walks, I can't walk anywhere really. The roads are not set up for pedestrian mobility. Second, there is a culture clash going on in India between the poorer regions and the more urban ones. In the suburbs of Noida in Delhi--while I have been here I have heard of two girls getting gang raped. One of them was traveling with her boyfriend when ten men with bats pulled them over, beat up the boyfriend while raping the girl. Another girl was abducted, raped and abandoned in the park. Their crime was simply being out and about. This news, along with reports of acid throwings and regular situations where you never see women traveling out and about alone says measures to me about how careful I need to be. The news does comment that in the end, the people who abuse and are arrest show no remorse and are barely punished and that's what scares me most.

After carefully considering my options I chose to come to Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's original place of residence which is near the base of the Himalayas to the North. Mixed in with international tourists, a Tibetan colony and many many single female travelers-I blend in well and am relieved to be here-albeit quite bored. The major problem right now, bad weather is preventing my leaving and I hope that the weather clears up soon or I will be taking a 14 hour train to Delhi tomorrow night in order to get back to the States.

Photos:
at one of the monasteries where the Tibetan government is in exile.

In Mcleodganj, many foreign travelers visit and volunteer to assist Tibetan refugees make the transition to their new city. The Norbulinka institute in Kanga valley is a school dedicated to Tibetan crafts and have helped original craftsmen set up studios to teach a new generation of craftsmen traditional art. Here a master craftsmen shows me his sketches and how he puts bronze sculptures together.

The prayer wheels located throughout the city and near temples. Turning each one clockwise acts as a means of prayer.

When I arrived the sky was clear and I could see the Himalayas against a blue sky. I didn't take a picture and have been ccursed with heavy rain every day since. Tibetan stupa built at the base of a dirt path that I slipped my way down towards.