wankers.

Up until today I have not wrote about ‘wankers’ in the blog so I do not worry my mum and dad.But after today’s wanking incident I want to tell you all about the ‘Indian wankers.’

My first ‘wanker’ experience was in Shimla. Me,Sorcha,Kiera,Steve and Sally where strolling down the street and a lad of about 25 ran past us and stood in a door way at the side of the street.We thought he was having a pee.He then turned to face us and started wanking.What did we do?We just walked past him, not uttering a word,we were shocked and disgusted but what do you do? Steve started pulling out wanking jokes and we just carried on as normal.Thats the thing in India nothing suprises me anymore.Around every corner there is something weird and just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder BAM! A wanker pops out!

A few weeks after that I seen a man wanking in a bus station whilst I was sitting on a bench waiting for a bus.He was standing at the side of a bus wanking looking straight at me.I moved where I could not see him and where he could not see me and carried on eating my samosa.

A few nights ago  I was walking home from school,it was dark and I was alone.I seen the Indian man in front of me standing in the road and did not notice he had his lil indian penis out.As I got closer I realised he did and speeded up walking to the left of him.You know when you walk down the street and someone is in your way,you are both going in the same direction and you sort of do a dance to get past each other?It was like that.He just stood there wanking,I moved left,he moved left,Imoved right,he moved right. When I finally pushed past him I ran for my life whilst screaming ‘sister fucker’ down the street.Sister fucker,a bit like mother fucker is the worst sware word you can say to an Indian.That is the first time I have used this word in India.He was really skinny and I probably could have smashed him but it terrified me.

 To top it all off last night I was in bed.There are bars on my windows and the windows were locked.I was watching 8 mile with my headphones in and seen something in the corner of my eye.The window is about 3 ft from my bed.The light was off in my room and I could see that there was someone peeping through the window.All I could see was eyes and a nose.My stomach was turning,my heart beating fast and I just did’nt know what to do!! Itried to feel around for my phone without him noticing and set off the ring tone.I then pretended to speak to my invisible friend who would be coming to my room in a few minutes.He stayed there a few secs then ran off.I jumped up and checked all the locks before jumping under the covers.I stayed under the covers all night.I could not sleep for hours.I think it was probably one of the most scariest moments in India-apart from when I had weed in my pants and thought we were going the police station!I reported it to my hotel manager  today and he told me not to worry nobody can get into my room,keep it  locked..Well, that makes it ok then?

Today at school I cried with laughter. Mr.long gave me his note pad to write something down.I turned to the back page and there were various questions he had wrote.

‘’Have you ever had sex with a goat? Have you ever had sex with a dog? Have you had a penis in your ass?’’ He was bright red with embarrassment as was I, but I was trying to keep my laugh in.

‘’Have you asked anybody these questions?’’ I asked. He told me no. ‘’OK. Well make sure you don’t.Or you will never get an English girlfriend.OK?’’ He agreed and took back his book.

I had tears rolling down my face.The other men wanted to see what the comotion was about and dragged the book off him.They did not find it funny .One of the monks could not understand and Mr.Long tried to translate, I cut him off and we moved onto our next subject. Homosexuality.

One of the men asked me do I know anybody that is gay.When I said yes the class was amazed and started asking all sorts of questions.I decided to use Andy and Pauli as my subjects and told them how they met,how they got married and showed them photographs of the happy couple. ‘’But they are so handsome,why can’t they find a girlfriend?’’ “How will they have children?” “Do you think it is ‘normal?’” I was bombarded with questions and after an hour of debating about ‘gay people’ only one of the group thought it was sort of ‘ok’.

In Tibet when a man marries a woman if he has a brother/s it is tradition that the brother shares his wife with the other brother/s. I explained to them how in the UK we do not do that and they must understand cultures are different.I told them if this happened with my Brothers there would be a murder. It’s funny they thought sharing their wife was fine but homosexuality was not normal.They told me in the west they hear about divorce,break ups,affairs etc and in Tibet everybody is happy.So  I asked my student  who lives with his brother and his wife and 3 kids,

 “So your wife.When you come here to school, you say bye bye to your wife and she says bye bye to you and then she makes love to your brother?”  “Yes” he replied laughing at my honesty. I asked him who the kids call father? He said the two eldest call him dad and the brother uncle but the youngest child calls them both father. Very confusing, but  I agree with him if it works why not? They are all happy and not hurting anybody so why the hell not?

Mr.Long then asked me would I like it. “No,one man is enough for me”I replied. “That is good!I have no brothers!” He said. The class erupted in laughter. Mr.Long is hilarious and quick.Any chance he gets to hit on me he will but in a jokingly way. Today’s class was fun, I left giggling thinking of all the random shit we chat about.

Today I feel like shit.I am hot,sweaty,weak,I have diorheaa and a massive headache.I keep feeling like I want to be sick but can’t. I cancelled school today and spent the day sleeping,shit,sleeping,shit and then spend thenight vomiting.

I can’t find the strength to get to the Doctors which is a hike up the 184 stairs that lead to the main road so I stay at the hotel drinking lots of water. Tseng texts me and tells me if I need anything to call her.Bless her.

Last night I got so scared something serious was going to happen to me I got the hotel manager’s mobile number and asked could I call him if I was scared or needed a doctor.I spent half the night on all fours vomitting nothing with massive stomach cramps.

Today I seen something I did not want to see in the toilet.WORMS.Little,skinny,white wriggly worms are coming out of my ass.Shit! Time to go the doctors.It took me a while getting up the stairs in the blistering heat,I was borking with the smell of the sewer that runs down every Indian street and felt like I was going to faint.I ran to a local shop and asked the man could I sit in the shade of his shop for a bit. Ten min later I was walking to the doctors feeling like death.4 hours later and I had a bag of pills,some electrolyte powder and a diagnosis of a stomach bug and worms.He told me I must have had a bit of dirt under my nail or something before I ate.Great.There is a reason for cutlery INDIA!!! God damn it! I buy some anti bacterial gel for my hands and sware to use it every hour of the day. Roll on Australia and cutlery!I will have probably forgotten how to use a fork and knife by the time I am back!

 I see and smell sewers everyday in India but today my body could not take it.I dry retched all the way home from the doctors whilst people gave me strange looks along the way.

Today I feel a bit better and have only been sick once.I still have diorheaa and worms.

Last night I was up vomitting but I feel fine today so I am going to school.

Just finished school.My class told me I did not look handsome today.To be fair I look like shit but I feel a lot  better.I can’t sit still the worms are wriggling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I feel fresh and healthy and after 3 days of eating only 2 slices of toast and beans I ate a bowl of plain rice and vegetable momo.Momo how I have missed you.I did feel fine until a few hours later. Toilet!!!!! I am so glad I am in a room with a normal toilet.God bless you western toilet you are my saviour today.

 Another day and I have no squits,no pains but my little wormy visitors are still here.At school today I met another teacher from Liverpool who is taking my place and we figured out we know each others friends.He has not seen his friend who is my mate’s father in 20 years.Weird,it really is a small world.

I told my class I it was my last lesson today, printed them off some photographs and wrote them a nice card. They were very appreciative and  sad. Mr.Long in particular had tears in his eyes when we hugged.He also tried to cop a feel of my ass when we took photos..hahah he cracks me up! They presented me with a white scarf which the Tibetan people use as an offering(puja) or blessing and gave me lots of hugs and handshakes. I was really sad but stayed strong and never cried(in front of them.)

When I left the class I checked my emails and to my delight I have been given a place on a ‘Introduction to Buddhism’ course. A ten day course involving meditation, philosophy teachings , and all things to do with Buddhism. I am so excited and happy . I will not speak for 10 days which I am fine about and hope at the end of the course I know a lot more about Buddhism, how to meditate and I hope I will have gained ‘something’ from this experience.  There will be no laptop,mobile phone,internet ,no talking,no caffiene or connection with the outside world so I am going to sneak in a note pad and write daily so I can update the blog on my release! So, it looks like I am not leaving McLeod Ganj at all , well not just yet.My class will be so happy when I surprise them tomorrow!I will have another 4 days here before my course begins in the Tushita monestry in Dharamkot. If you would like to see what I am doing and where I am going click on www.tushita.com

School dayz.................

My second day at class and the air is filled with the smell of cheap Indian aftershave and essential oils.I think the men are a bit excited about having a new female teacher! The men who have hair, have slapped some gel on and one guy in particular Mr.Long has a crisp ironed shirt on,some tight jeans and a massive cowboy belt.Mr.Long has the brightest,rosiest,chubbiest cheeks and the largest,widest smile.His eyes are wide with excitement when I tell stories and he has the biggest personality in the class.He tells me that the 61 year old monk has lost the key to unlock his brain.A lot of the other men get jealous when he talks as they never get a word in edge ways!

The quietest man in the class is a 61 year old monk.He is always smiling but very shy.He tells me he does not like sitting next to Mr.Long as it gives him a head ache and he says Mr.Long has lost his mind.He thinks he is crazy.These two men really clash and it's funny to watch them in action.As soon as Mr.Long shouts across the classroom or raises his hand the monk has his bald head in his hands.Haha.

Today's topic is Mr.Longs love life. He has a wife in Tibet but she now has a new man and he is searching for a new wife. He says he is not fussy, he just wants someone British so he can marry them and return  to Tibet with his new British passport to visit his children.They also must have money to pay for the flights. We all sit and debate for hours how he is wrong in judging people by their nationality but he won't have it.He wants a British wife and that's it! Half the time we are in stitches laughing at his thoughts. ''British ladies are beautiful, they have nice hair and skin, they have good jobs and make nice children.'' He begs me to help him find a bride.I give him a few dating website addresses,chat up lines and hints on finding love(Like I know a lot about that!). That night when I go home I print off a photo I have of him for a joke make a poster.

I stick the photo on a sheet of paper and write underneath it ''Mr.Long, aged 36, seeking  rich British wife for love, citizenship and fun.Must have money,fair skin and a British passport!''

Next day at school the poster brings a lot of laughs to the class room and we have another lesson on love.

Thursday.

The main English teacher at the school asks can he have a word with me.I am walking into the office feeling like a naughty child at school.I think I already know what this is about. Mr.Long had only gone and asked the teacher could he photocopy the poster!! I tried to explain why I did this but it was just plain embarrasing.I could feel myself going red. He tells me if I want to continue to volunteer at the school I must be professional.I bite my lip and leave the office laughing inside.Imagine if he knew what we talked about in class!  When I start class I explain to the group about the poster being a joke,they all knew this anyway and give Mr.Long shit for getting me into trouble.

Today's topic is Australia. Two of my students have just won the Australian visa lottery and have 12 months before they are sent to Sydney. One is a 31 year old monk and the other a 26 year old girl called Tsering.I tell them about kangaroos, crocodiles, all things Australian and promise to show them some photographs next lesson. The other men are so happy for them and no resentment at all is shown.This is a dream come true for all of them. They are both so nervous, but so excited. They do not know anything about Australia only that there are kangaroos, sharks and crocodiles. I tell them how clean it is,how there are no car beeps like in India and how they can drink water out of the tap.This excites them more than anything. I feel sorry for them too as they will be venturing into a completly different way of life and society. We promise to keep in touch and I promise to fly them to Cairns and take them fishing, go to the beach and introduce them to all my friends. They are so excited, bless. It's days like this I appreciate how lucky I am to live in Australia and come from a 'normal' country.

Friday

Today I worked at the local Rogpa nursery cleaning, making flyers,helping craft class and took one of the kids to the temple for an hour.        Trust me to get he strongest 19 month old.He pulled my hair,pinched me, and nearly deafened me screaming when I returned him to class.I finished the day by handing out some flyers around town to the locals for the nursery charity day and then I had to head to English school.

Today we looked at photographs on each others laptops.One of the men showed my photographs of Tibet.AMAZING.It was beautiful.Crystal clear lakes, turquoise lagoons, snow capped mountains and miles and miles of deserted countryside.This place looks like heaven.I must go.

 Tseng tells me she is going to visit her aunt in the local 'nunnery' tomorrow (that's what they call convents here)and asks me would I like to join her.Why not.

Saturday

 I meet Tseng bright and early at 7am and bless her she has sneaked me a cup of tea in a flask and a piece of Tibetan steamed bread from the school canteen as she knew I had not eaten breakfast.She told me we were heading to Norbulingka which is 6k away. She tells me we have to get 3 local buses and they cost 4 rupees each(8cents) as a taxi is too expensive(200rupees-4$)I really want to offer to pay for a taxi as it will be easier,quicker and comfier but it's awkward and I don't want her to feel awkward so I keep quiet.She won't let me pay the fare and it's too busy to argue. It's boiling hot, the buses are packed but strangely peaceful.There are no Indians at all on the buses.The buses are full of Tibetan monks and nuns traveling to visit family,temples or to the markets as Sunday's are their days off.They just sit on the bus reading bibles,books or meditating.The only noise is the horn and the screeching brakes of the bus as we turn corners on the mountains.2 hours later and a steep 15 min climb up a hill and we arrive at Dolma Ling Buddhist nunnery.On the way we pass a fruit stall and I ask Tsering can I buy her Aunty some fruit.After a few min arguing she reluctantly lets me buy a water melon. I wish I had bought a bunch of bananas this thing is bloody heavy!

The nunnery is huge,a big red bricked building set on gardens filled with English flowers,sprawling green gardens,a stream running around the gardens,a huge temple and shrine to the Dalai Lama outside,no traffic,no noise, the smell of flowers and the sound of birds singing in the sunshine.It is beautiful.It makes me think of my nan looking at all the English flowers.All the plants I look at are what my man used to have in her back yard.I have not seen these for years.I think this is a little sign she is with me so I say a quick hello and have a little conversation with her in my head...

 We head to her Aunty's room which we are not allowed to enter and are greeted by a shy,red faced smiling bald nun wearing the famous maroon robe.

Her aunt is 46 years old and has been here for 7 years.She cannot speak any English and has never met an English person before so she is very quiet.It's a bit awkward at first but after a few minutes we are laughing,joking and she is holding my hand.She takes me around the nunnery showing me the libary,prayer hall,classrooms and finally the kitchen.The kitchen is so tiny, I cannot believe they can feed 200 people from here.But it is spotlessly clean.I would say cleaner than any kitchen I have EVER seen in my 15 years in the catering industry.To be fair the whole complex is clean,spotless and I would eat my dinner off the floor.It is so quiet here.Me and Tseng joke we should be nuns and join the nunnery and live in this amazing place.We sit in the gardens and eat the melon whilst the nunnery cows munch the grass around our feet.

Midday a massive gong strikes and the nuns flock to the dining hall to eat their noodle soup for lunch.We all go outside to the local Tibetan noodle house and eat a delicious dish of noodles and vegetables. I am trying my best to use chopsticks.The two girls finish in seconds slurping and whipping up the noodles like masters with the chopsticks.It takes me nearly 15 minutes and I have more on the front of my top than on the plate! Tseng will not let me pay for lunch and I feel terrible but accept when she says ''If you are my friend you will let me buy you lunch.Please.'' She only gets given 6$ a month to live off from the school fund and I know even though it's only $1.20 for all our lunch it is a big spend for her.

Aunty makes a call to Tibet from the local phone shop whilst we sit and drink hot water from the flask she brought. We finally say our goodbyes late afternoon and head back home. What a beautiful day.Peace,quiet,nature and beautiful company.I head back to school with Tseng and hang out in her room with her for an hour much to her delight.By 6.30pm I am shattered and head home to get a shower,I stink.When I leave I receive a text from Tseng,

 ''I am very happy today so I want you to know.You make me happy.I am happy to have a friend.OK,good night and I hope you have sweet dreams.I look forward to conversation class tomorrow. XXXX.''

Bless her. From what I have experienced travelling Asia, Asians are very young at heart and very innocent. It sometimes annoyed me and Sorcha when we made friends, they would tell us they loved us and would not leave us alone for a second. Calling, texting,emailing etc.  But today I think I have met a friend for life who has a good heart, good morals and beautiful personality. She has been through so much at such a young age and is so happy and full of life.She has nothing compared to us in the west but refuses to let me pay for my lunch and bus fare.I really want to give her some money when I leave but I don't think it's appropriate.I am going to buy her some toiletries and a nice gift she can keep to remember me by.We had such a nice day I even rang home to tell my mum about it.It's amazing, some people you meet for only a few hours and you have strong feelings for them.Such a nice girl.I am looking forward to seeing her in class tomorrow and telling the boys about our little trip.

FREE TIBET..

Wow! I have so much to write! Where to start!?
Me and one of the Irish lads finally left Vashist and headed to Kasol for the 'Shiva Squad' trance festival we had heard about. I only enjoy trance if I am on drugs or pretty pissed so this was going to be interesting as I planned not to drink or take any drugs.
After a scary 8 hour local bus journey we arrived in Kasol. It was a bit hotter which was nice, the sun was shining and we found a great guest house after a few minutes of searching. The guest house was run by local baba's  who greeted us with a chillum (massive pipe of hash) and a cup of steaming hot coffee. I have been saying for the last few weeks I am going to stop smoking hash but with the weather being so cold in Vashist and the local traveller hang out being a pot den it has'nt happened. Judging by the welcome chillum it definately was not going to happen here.
It turns out Irish is a massive stoner so it's going to be pretty difficult not to smoke. The last 2 weeks the first thing I have been doing in the morning is having a joint. I really need to quit and decide to make a rule for myself. No joints till after 5pm. That rule did not happen and day 3 in Kasol I had already smoked my brains out.
The day of the rave I decided not to smoke as I have been pretty anti social lately and basically a complete stoner. I wanted to wake up fresh and lively and enjoy the day. The hippies I met arrived but did not want to pay the 20$ entry fee so I decided to go with Irish and pay entrance whilst they searched the forest for a gap under the fence. The rave was from 10 am till 10 pm which we never found out till 3pm so we quickly grabbed some beers and headed into the forest.
The place was empty apart from a few food stalls and about 30 Israelis smoking pipes and joints. The air was thick with smoke and the area was the size of half a footy pitch.As with everything in India I should know not to expect too much! Trance music was pumping way too loud and after an hour I felt like the same tune was playing over and over again. I decided to be social and have a few beers and make the most of it. This is the loudest music I have heard for months and I start enjoying it. I refuse joints off the fellow ravers and chat with random hippies in the circle. That's he thing about India you can go ino any coffee shop or smoking den and there is always a joint or pipe being passed around. You can sit there all day and there are so many of you smoking we all probably roll 2 joints each and we always have one in our hand.I remember when I was young there was always arguments, bets and debates who was going to 'roll the next joint'. This would have been heaven!
Within a few hours me and Irish are a bit merry and get up to have a boogie. Some of the people around us are off their faces making shapes and pulling the strangest faces. We are offered MDMA and have a little 'try before we buy' but it's rubbish so we just stick to the drink. 10pm arrives, we leave and head home. Back home we play music, have a few joints and chat till the wee hours. Irish tries his luck, I tell him where to go and head to my room. I like this guy but not like that. After no sex for 5 months you're probably wondering am I mad?Maybe I am. My excuse not to was ''I hate beards.''
Next morning the beard was gone. Awkward dot com.
 I headed to a guest house where you rent a room which has a massive hot bath.The hot water comes straight from the springs and costs 40 cents for 20 minutes. It takes me a while to immerse my whole body in as it's so hot but once I stop being a pussy and slip under the hot water I feel amazing-although I was paranoid whilst sitting in the bath because of the many holes in the walls and ceiling and kept wondering was their some old Indian man peeping through whilst 'banging one out!'
I mentioned before how I love Israeli travellers. I take it all back.Here they are like brits abroad. Rowdy, noisy, they take over every bar they come across  and here in kasol it is like little Israel. The menus are in Hebrew,the signs are in Hebrew and the Indian food vender's are selling falafels and lafas! I have had enough of little Israel and decide to head to Dharamsala. Vashist was way prettier than Kasol.
Oh, and may I mention I have finally stopped smoking so I can detox my body for 3 months so I can pass my drugs test for work.I have not had a join for 3 days now.
Dharamsala is best known as the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile are based here.There are all sorts of courses available here from yoga, to cooking, to hypnosis. I find a really nice guest house with my own private shower and toilet which is a rarity in India and am pretty excited about my '24 hr hot shower!'  The room is the cleanest I have ever rented.Even the bathroom is spotless! Yes!! I have 3 hot showers today.Bliss!
It's really hot here and it feels weird not wearing my fleece. Now is the perfect time to wash it and after 5 months of travelling without washing my fleece once ( I always need it!) it takes me 7 hand washes before the water runs clear!
In the morning I see a man walking up and down the stairs with massive barrels of water. An hour later he is still going...up, down, up , down. He is hunched over with the massive barrel on his back, with rope strapped onto his forehead holding the barrel on his back. I ask my landlord what he is doing. The landlord tells me he is filling up the water tank for the showers. I feel terrible.I have been having 3 showers a day because I have not had my own CLEAN, private, HOT shower in months. From this moment on I have been using as little water as I can and even brush my teeth with bottled water and not turn on the tap!
I attended a Tibetan cooking class yesterday and I can proudly say I have now mastered my favourite Tibetan treat MOMO's!
FREE TIBET
 Today has been a day that I will remember for the rest of my life.
 I spotted a cute cafe advertising the fact that all it's profits go to Tibetan refugees so I decided to have a coffee. The cafe also sells local handicrafts handmade by Tibetan women in the crafts factory they own.The Tibetan woman are given a fair wage and free childcare to work in the factory.I got talking to the barrister and a cup of coffee turned into a 3 hour chat about Tibet, China, communism and his old life in Tibet. I don't know much about the history of Tibet or China's invasion but after speaking to this guy I was moved, upset, and angry I did not know the history and wanted to know more. I headed to the local Tibetan Museum where I read newspaper articles, stories of Tibetan refugees,  stories of Tibetan prisoners, watched a few documentaries, looked at photographs and left 2 hours later with a lump in my throat ready to burst into tears. I found a quiet spot down an alley and cried.I don't think I have been this upset since Andy died.I don't know why it affected me like this? I got myself together and headed to the Tibetan Temple next door. I sat in the temple all afternoon listening to the monks chanting mantras, I said a few prayers myself, watched the world go by and got chatting to a monk who could speak good English. He told me about a school close by that accommodates male ex political prisoners of war and Tibetan refugees.The school provides accommodation, food and teaches them English, Tibetan history and religion along with many other things. Their is no age limit at the school, the  men here are aged 16 to 70.He tells me they are always looking for people to drop in and chat so they can practise their English. I got directions and headed straight there. I was very nervous but to be fair talking is what I do best so I figured it would not be that hard! I headed into the building and was greeted by a smiling Tibetan man called Jinsun. He led me to a room and we sat and chatted over a cup of tea. He is 34 years old and escaped from Tibet 2 years ago. It took him 18 days to walk from Lhasa to Kathmandu. He told me all about his old job as  a tour guide in Lhasa, how he misses his family and how it upsets him he cannot return to his family.He escaped without telling a soul and regrets its so much. He does not like India, he does not like Indian food and misses his family so much.I kept a brave face and listened but inside I was crying for this man.How can China do this? I am so angry I visited China 4 years ago.Had I known any of this I would never have gone. He asked me had I ever been to China.I lied. I have a chinese flag tattoo on my foot and chinese writing on my back for god sake!I am so angry with myself.I love the tatoo on my foot but the chinese tattoos have to go. As soon as I get to Australia I'm getting them removed.
Another man overhears our conversation and joins us.His name is too long to remember.He has the longest name in the school.I refer to him as Mr.Long.
Mr.Long escaped 6 years ago and has a wife and 2 children in Tibet. He escaped to earn more money and get a job as it was hard in Tibet. What he did not realise was that to get a job in India he must speak English. It took him 2 months to walk to India and on the way him and his friend where attacked by the chinese.They managed to escape but his friend had been shot in the arm. He helped his friend all the way and when they got to Nepal his friend was suffering from serious frost bite and his arm had to be amputated.His friend was sent back to Tibet for hospitalisation and is still imprisoned there. Because he helped his friend he was allowed into India. He showed me photos of his children who are now 8 and 6, a boy and girl and told me it has been 2 years since he heard their voice. Why? Because the chinese cut the phone masts in the village where they live so the only way he can communicate with them is by letter. Like Jinsun, he too misses home but he seems a lot happier in India than Jinsun does. He told me his wife now has a boyfriend and he too is searching for a girlfriend, preferably a westerner so he can get a different passport and return to Tibet to see his children. It's crazy how if they leave their country they will be imprisoned on their return.I just don't get it. I hate china.I hate the Chinese government and I hate the fact that nobody can do anything to stop this. We then move onto the subject of marriage and children and I am now the topic of conversation because at the age of 30 I am still single with no children. The clock strikes 7 and I have been there 4 hours and it's time to go as they are having dinner. I promise to return tomorrow with my hard drive of movies so that they can practise their English skills more of course!
I head back to the cafe to tell the barrister all about my day but he is not there. A Korean volunteer who can't speak much English is making coffee. I read a few notices on  the board in the cafe and see that there is a local nursery also run by the same charity as the cafe. They provide free childcare so that the Tibetan refugee women can go to work at the local crafts factory that they also run.You can sign up and help at the nursery which has 50 odd children all under the age of 3. I sign myself up and buy a few postcards and another coffee.
A group of Indian tourists stroll past the cafe then turn back and rush in for a photo. I tell them they can have a photo with me only if they all put a donation in the donation box.They agree. The first guy takes a photo and puts the smallest coin in the tin possible so I refuse a photo with the next guy unless they stick their hand in their pocket.About ten photos later I have sold a handmade Tibetan bag, a handmade shawl and the donation box is heavier. The Indian's leave and someone orders a coffee with me thinking I work there lol....
I head back to my room and tearfully watch 7 years in Tibet.
What an emotional day. I have learnt so much today my head is sore. I know I cant change the world and free Tibet but there must be something I can do...........................................

Leaving Vashisst...

Well, the last few days have been spent with people I would not normally hang around with in my 'normal' everyday life. My daily routine the last week has been pretty much the same. I wake up whenever I wake up, head down to the local hot spring baths for my morning shared shower with the local Indian women,have a breakfast of vegetable soup, morning stroll through the mountains and then the rest of the day is spent in the local cafe 'shanti,shanti' drinking chai,eating soup and momo's for dinner, listening to strange tales, opinions and smoking charras.

Harry Potter boy is starting to really annoy me and I don't know how long I can bite my tongue for. Yesterday he comes into the bar carrying an axe, some dodgy twigs and bag of shells,cotton and shit bits. He tells me he went for a picnic and tried to start his own fire. ''Bear grylls style?'' I said. ''Bear Grylls is an over rated idiot'' he replies. What a twat. He then carries on his tale of how to start a fire, how he made yak cheese and tomato sandwiches and met some cool indians bla bla bla bla bla bla . I asked him why would he try to start his own fire.I mean really.What's the point???? AHHHH! Paul the irsish lad loves how this lad grates on me.

The only thing that's really bugging me is the morning bath ritual. It's freezing  in the room when I wake up so it takes me a few minutes to drag myself from under the duvet.I get dressed and head down to the local bath in the temple which is only about 2 min walk away. Then I get undressed, washed, bath and then have to get out the hot baths into the cold air outside in the temple court yard to get dressed.I then run home dodging the cow shit and muck through the farm and get undressed and dressed once again. It feels like the old days when people used to go to outdoor toilets. Sod that. I cant wait to get up in Cairns and not have to go outside to use the toilet or run down the street to get a bath or get a shower with a jug and bucket.I cannot wait for a REAL shower and red wine and cheese on the esplanade.MMMMMMmmmm.

It's nice and hot in the day which is good but the cold nights are starting to annoy me a bit. I think I feel the cold more now because I'm not sharing a bed. It's nice having my own space and only having to worry about myself.I am enjoying 'me' time but also missing travelling with Sorcha and missing Leanne too.It felt like she was here for longer than 4 weeks.It actually only hit me today the 3 months I have left are going to go so fast as the last 5 months have and I need to start aking the most of every day!Not that I have'nt been bu it's going to be the end of my trip in no time and I'm going to wish I was back here. I am so glad I came to Manali it is a very chilled out and easy place to travel.If everywhere in India was like this I'd have less grey hairs!

I have been in Vashist nearly 2 weeks now and keep saying I am going to move on but I never do. It's a nice place, the locals are lovely,nice views,stunning scenery,the food is amazing,the weed is awesome and I love it here.So why move? Well, I only have 7 weeks left in India and I hear there are more amazing places like this up North, so it's time to make the most of my remaining time and go and explore!

A couple of days ago I took part in another cooking class with a local Indian lady who runs the local orphanage. I learn t how to make a few more tasty treats but I still prefer to cook and eat thai.

The local momo stall where I eat everyday I will remember forever. I made the lady who owns and runs it, a little Face Book page for her momo stall and she knitted me some woolen socks as a thank you.They are gorgeous and so warm! She taught me how to make tibetan soup, and gave me her secret recipe for her famous Momo's! I can't wait to get back to Oz and have a momo night with the gang.

I invested in a pair of unattractive long johns and a cute pair of Gap jeans yesterday. It is so cold now and felt so weird wearing tight jeans.I have been used to baggy pants the last few months but up here nobody is bothered if you wear tight clothing or not, I always have a blanket wrapped around me anyway.Oh and may I add the jeans are a size smaller han when I left Cairns!BAM!

I got up early today and went down to the local springs to do my laundry.There were two indian ladies there bashing clothes with cricket bats, wringing out carpets and had a weeks worth of family washing with them.I squeezed in between them with my little bag of socks and pants and tried to do my laundry without getting drenched by cricket bat lady.Bitches would no make room for me so I just sat and rolled a joint and watched.9am and I'm smoking.I'm making the most of it as I have 13 days left before I'm going to give up the weed for the mines.God help me.It;s going to be hard if it's like this place everywhere I go.

 An hour passed, they were done, my washing wash done and it was time to find something other to do than sit in Shanti Shanti smoke cafe.Today it was nice and sunny so I headed down the lane for a nice walk. One eyed Willie was bored so we both went to pick some fresh weed, tea and herbs en route to the temple. Ate some homemade coconut cookies, had a smoke and drank fresh chai at one of the farmers houses on the way back.Nice day.

I have been hanging out with 4 Irish lads the last few days who are sound lads. One of the lads it turns out knows a few of my mates Kev and Lego from Oz so we got on well and had things in common.I decided I was leaving today so me and Jerr have decided to head further down the valley together to The Parvtati Valley. The other irish lads and a few of the local Indian lads will follow down in the next few days as there is a massive trance party happening there.

Parvati valley is meant to be as beautiful as here in Vashist and full of Israelis. I'm a bit fond of the old israeli traveller so I think I'm going to enjoy it there.Who knows?