Hike in the Himalayas

Feb 27
Morning yoga is cooooold again. Despite that, it is a great warm-up for a half day hike in the Himalayas. It's warm and sunny as we depart so I leave my North Face shell and hat in the room. Oops. Note to self: take a jacket when you play in the Himalayas :)
I do remember to bring a little bit of chocolate though and it is a very sweet treat up on the trail. The Himalayas here are snow covered jagged peaks. Enormous and breathtaking. As we ascend we find ourselves in a cloud. And it starts to snow. At first i am all upset about not having my shell and hat, but its really not that bad and we aren't going too too far. So, I don't let it hamper the walk at all. It's just one foot in front of the other. A perfect meditation in an exquisite setting. We pass locals on the trail who hike in flip flops with no socks, carrying loads of wood or babies on their backs. They live up in these hills and walk this hike everyday to go to work and back or go to town. I am humbled and inspired by them all. Seeing the lives and hearing the stories of the Indians and the Tibetans up here in Dharmsala has shifted my world view like no other place in India. I can't think of a better way to spend my last full day here. It's always a great relief and feeling of accomplishment to reach the top or destination of a hike. Today we walk/climb to Guna Temple. It is so beautiful and charged with the spirit and energy of the devotion of the people. I feel so grateful to be healthy enough to make it to this spot and really happy to be sharing the moment with Desiree and Andrew and Joan and Sandy and Holbrook. I've made such great friends on the trip.
After the hike I am so hungry and happy to eat spinach tofu momo soup at Nick's. While there I run into my friend (one of the Redback trip leaders) Alex, who joins me for dessert and chai. As we sit and chat we discover that we have a mutual friend in Los Angeles. Super small world! I love it!
Hard to believe the trip is almost over. I want to soak up every last minute of it. I'm going to miss everyone and everything!



- YogiPod posting from India using iPhone

Location:Dharmsala