Welcome to Lahaul, with its poplars and willows
The priest has asked the local spirit to welcome us
and the police obliges
We drive up windy roads
past glaciers
and valleys
to Gemoor
with its interesting landscape
architectural motifs
fast cars
and stunning view
up towards Zanskar
to visit the protector, Palden Lhamo
who appears in the river... to some
High tea to warm up
from the bitter wind
as the sun sets
we stop in Jispa where His Holiness bestowed the Kalachakra initiation a few years ago
This Zanskari nun single handedly maintains the place
Home, where Father and Uncle are commemorated
All enjoy the sun
It’s how to stay warm
up the mountain to the monastery
where the image of Buddha is seen from different floors
the Abbot presides over the making of tea as offerings are prepared
the valley below
And then a visit to the ancestral home
a cosy home
though some teeth missing
the family reliquaries
And then, along precipitous road
past mountain altar
back to our Kangra Valley
where all remains well
