whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: Himachal Pradesh Stole My Heart…
http://whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com/2012/04/himachal-pradesh-stole-my-heart.html
Sunday, April 8, 2012. Himachal Pradesh Stole My Heart…. I chose Palampur because, along with needing some company after two difficult goodbyes, I thought that knowing someone there would offer better insight about this new state, Himachal Pradesh, and about Kashmir also. I thought it would be best to get informed before heading to the touristy places like Dharamsala and Manali, of which I knew nothing. Popped up… Looming snowy peaks, silent and immortal, beckoning in the background with the settin...
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: Chamba Shaadi - Day 2
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Chamba Shaadi - Day 2. Owwww, my head. What do you mean I have to get up in the morning and we have to go eat and get drunk again? Wasn't one day enough? No wonder they call him Sunny. I managed to drag myself through the minimal physical preparations (get dressed, brush teeth.oh what the hell, I'm a foreigner, nobody will notice or mind if I stink, hehehe). I don't think we had breakfast, as we shortly all gathered at a venue in town for the traditional dham. Hehehe.sorry), ...
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: Buddhism 301 - No Beer in Bir, nor Deer in Deer Park
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Buddhism 301 - No Beer in Bir, nor Deer in Deer Park. The next morning, we walked to the main road and attempted to hitchhike but failed, as the first vehicle to stop was the bus headed to Baijnath. We hopped on. Following the talk, many of the attendees took refuge - taking vows for a sort of first step towards becoming Buddhist. Tenzin Palmo cut a small piece of their hair and placed it in a bowl. She asked "Are you happy? Yup, that day I probably realised I needed some more ...
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: Due North – “Short” Detour in Punjab, Chapter 1
http://whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com/2012/04/due-north-short-detour-in-punjab.html
Sunday, April 1, 2012. Due North – “Short” Detour in Punjab, Chapter 1. So hop on a day train from Delhi to Amritsar, with a couchsurfer’s place to stay at (although if he didn’t answer, I would have spent the first night at the Golden Temple). In my “compartment” sat a man who looked like Stephen Ouimette. From Slings and Arrows. Reshma – the gypsy woman – pushed us three Canadians on stage to dance with the Punjabi performers (and the midget! Mr Singh’s hotel was his family’s property for a...As an asi...
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: Ik O’nkar! The Golden Temple – Aliens Have Landed
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Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The Golden Temple – Aliens Have Landed. My brain's baseline levels of anxiety are abnormally high I would say. I try to deal with it now by throwing myself into a crazy adventure. Fight fear with fear. Not sure if it's working. Sign at Langar entrance. Eventually, my new friend had to go home but we exchanged phone numbers and were going to meet the following day for morning prayers. I also left for my dorm only to discover that my chappals had been stolen! Sitting for Langar meal.
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: March 2012
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Thursday, March 29, 2012. I was in a hurry to leave though, and although there was so much left to see in Delhi (and I could have spent more time with Ali, or maybe even landed that Bollywood gig! The North keeps calling. Your father will kill you if you miss the next migration". "I've already found the perfect piece of land. Anna will come with me. We can live there happily for years. We can grow our own food. Here, I'll show you.". Sunday, March 25, 2012. Turns out Lonavle is famous for chikki. So ther...
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: More Clouds in McCleod, Less Clouds in My Heart - A Tomato Love Story
http://whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com/2012/04/more-clouds-in-mccleod-less-clouds-in.html
Friday, April 13, 2012. More Clouds in McCleod, Less Clouds in My Heart - A Tomato Love Story. As I awoke, slightly more confused but also slightly less, paradoxically, I spontaneously asked Vishal if I could join for his friend's wedding happening in Chamba in a few days. He had thought of asking me to come along as well, so things turned out great. So I hopped on a bus to McLeod Ganj, with Eddie Vedder in my ears (dammit, thanks to Vishal, I became so addicted to that soundtrack for the next months!
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: His (Elusive) Holiness
http://whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com/2012/04/his-elusive-holiness.html
Friday, April 13, 2012. The following day, I took Rany for breakfast and decided I would continue to try helping people one by one. While my life is kind of hopelessly tangled, making other people smile seems like the perfect mission. I learned a lot about her, and how and why she ended up in McLeod - quite different from most people. Well, that's done and out of the way, let's go get some food now! However, thankfully, I stuck around and waited for Rany, because on our way back, we were followed by an I...
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: Recovery, Illumination, Spontaneity
http://whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com/2012/04/recovery-illumination-spontaneity.html
Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Recovery, Illumination, Spontaneity. The following day, we woke up early and rode back to Palampur. I took a nap while Vishal went straight to work. Ahhh, I really have been spoiled and fortunate on my travels. Then again, work is two steps in front of his house :P. And since Palampur is on the way back, I could leave my huge bag there and just take my daybag to McLeod. That night, more mind-shifting occured as we watched Motorcycle Diaries. October 15, 2012 at 6:10 AM. Hahaha,...
whatcontingencyplan.blogspot.com
What Contingency Plan?: February 2012
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Sunday, February 12, 2012. I’m starting to get more used to taking the state buses alone. Still not fully comfortable with everyone staring at me but at least I know that at rest stops they won’t leave without the white girl :-P. The road to Munnar from Madurai is something to be experienced. I’m a mountain girl. Seeing the mountains again brought back memories of past treks and hikes. Yet this was one of the most unnerving roads I’ve been on. Something out of Top Gear. Upon our return, we were informed ...
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