Dalai Lama's Cat - Wandering in Macleodganj

One of my objects of affection - cats. I meet them in books, one visit our balcony, and then vanishes, one see me lazying in sun and one see me in love, when i am just me. They fascinate me, try to intimidate, daring me to pet their fur, which i hesitate to do! So wary of these beautiful, uncanny creatures. Read this book, which is memoir of a cat at Dalai Lama temple in Macleodganj. I wandered in temple and the city with the cat, visiting cafes and streets. And then i got chance to visit the place after few months. Like movies based on books don't do justice to books, similarly sometimes places don't do justice to the books where they happen! 

So here we reach the place early morning in bus and walk down to our hotel from bus stand. Saw this monk walking past with the beautiful girl, both laughing and full of energy. What is so attractive about monks - their dress, shaved heads, calm faces, simple expression - what is it! I felt like clicking every monk i came across, though i dint. I think they dont like it. So have to respect their willingness (as assumed by me).

Soon the streets started buzzing with roadside activities, small shops selling woollens, crystals, nicknack jewellery, small cafes and bakeries, and speeding taxis. Oh i so wish there were no machines in this town from my book. 

The Budhist prayer flag - seen on bikes and houses and mountain ridges, blessing the surroundings. I thought only Gurgaon has noise polution. Uff at one point i wanted to just shut myself in hotel room to avoid the traffic noise! 

Budhha everywhere! And why not! Along with the spiritual path he has shown to us less immortals, he has so enchanting and beautiful imagery. After Ganesha i think Buddha is the one who adorns most household non religiously and religiously!

I always used to question why in most of the religious places photography is not allowed. So here i come in dalai lama temple and there is no restriction and here i was questioning why there is no restriction! It was like a fair. Everyone with camera or mobile camera and clicking. Nothing wrong in it. But dont know why i was not liking the fact that this temple, where my cat roamed about majestically with her master, meeting important personalities, learning life lessons, was being invaded by so many strangers. Then i saw these monks doing their prayers and rituals, oblivion to all the sound and randomness around them. 

This scooter perched on wooden platform in ignored dilapidated street reminded me of two things - a movie which i saw few months back of a traveller lost while attempting climb to Majestic Himalayas , Everest. He becomes Dalai lama friend  And lots of other things happen, but what related to this scooter was the Tibet set up and Free Tibet movement. I wondered how many buddhist migrated from tibet in real at that time and still migrating and restarting their life in various parts of India Himalayas. The second thing i was reminded of the the similar kind of vintage scooters art works being commisioned and done by one of the freind in his art gallery. I wonder who did this scooter art work and how it was lying in this neglected state in this unknown corner.

He seemed to be just out of my book. Sitting in the verandah of small cafe run by a beautiful tibetan lady, selling momos, coffy, maggi and chai and wud boil eggs and make omelette if we insist. She made the most delicious chinese tea. My cat would have settled on that chair and like her dog friends in book, she would have silent understanding with this ruffy boy too!

Town from my book.. I think i ll go there again.. Such is the pull of these lil random, lil chaotic, lil quaint places from the pages..