After two years away I celebrate Diwali with Meera Bajpai
her devoted Christians assist
the Buddha presides
Ganesh dances
and Meera delights
Nelson serves
with wife Sunita and little Marianne
Ganshyam cooks, while caring for his wife Tara and daughter Trisha
And then I explore
discovering street shrines
tree shrines
and cobbler
before meeting Rohan who prints pics for an exhibition in Dharamsala this December!!
Lastly, new specs from Mr. Souri
St. John in the Wilderness' Church keeper
its cross
French musician
Canadian mother
her son Sebastian
less fortunate mother
less fortunate son
Tica awaits her taxi
Tenzin Kunkyi poses
as does Felipe
Kim chez elle
Simon chez lui
Choejor stops for fruit
Madame tends goats
as does Monsieur
tend ME?!!!
not needing tending!
the Barber of McLeod
taking home some twigs
off to meet the Sikyong
His Holiness’s new Archive
baker and her assistant
Ngawang Choephel, musician - film maker
Manu Beigum visits the mountains
with Suhana
former Speaker out for a stroll
with former Finance Minister
Hari, lord of our taxi
Shakshi and Lucky’s mother
Dorje and friend enjoy the new seat
Why?
why not
ok
she carries her burden with grace
he takes a break
his colleague proceeds
and so do I
It pours
we brave the rain
as do others
then fog
dancing among the trees
others dance as well
some enjoy the view
and some don’t give a damn
This young girl must work
carrying bricks
and cement
Madame runs her shop
mother and daughter come to buy
There is a respect for trees
interpreted diversely
sometimes abusively
they roar
undulate
and glow
There are lakes as well
with sea horses
swans
and water
at last
Sapna cleans the room
offerings are made
as Chuwar Rinpoche is coming for lunch
Then tea
and prayers
before another afternoon adventure
With prayers for all
It rains on our hotel
I photograph
It sometimes hails
turning all white
then clouds float by
Rinpoche is brave
our new friend visits
I photograph hotel plants
our fake ones too
Norbu Tsering cares for us
preparing Sunday momos
in his kitchen
exercise on the verandah
then tea
a teaching by His Holiness
and prayers resume
mine as well
before photographing more flowers
Good night