Roof of the World

Well, we're back on the road again after spending a fantastic month in McLeod Ganj (home of HH the 14th Dalai Lama as well as the Tibetan gov't and culture in exile). While there, we tried to learn as much about the Tibetan culture as possible. Through all the activities we become imvolved with, we gained many friends and benefited from the genuine happiness, compassion, kindness, and unique world view of the Tibetan people. They challenged us daily, and we are so glad that we were able to stop and get to meet so many great people. Their unique kindness is really beyond words and one that we hope to emulate in many ways.

Their culture is under attack and at risk of being lost forever, and the people continue to face unimaginable torture, oppression, and countless other hardships. Their relatively small population (6 million) and China's enormous economic clout makes the Tibetans heavily reliant upon the outside world to act to diminish their suffering. Right now they are being completely ignored. To learn more about the history of Tibet, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet. For the Tibetan side of current events and history, go to http://www.tibet.org/News/.

So we've left our temporary home and are back to wandering around the mountains of India. We will be spending our last month in this fascinating country (depart 30 Sept for Thailand) in some of the highest mountains in the world. Over this last month, we hope to continue learning about the Tibetan culture, visit ancient monasteries, as well as do some serious hiking (hopefully as many as ten days). Jason says it will be the highlight of his life... I remind him that I am ;). We'll be spending most of our time in a region called Ladakh, which supposedly has the most traditional Tibetan culture outside of Tibet (and some would argue the world) as well as some of the world's highest mountains (K2 - the second highest mountian - is just outside it's border). Tomorrow we begin this final leg by traveling the world's second highest road at 17,582 feet (we also hope to go over the highest road before leaving India). Onward!