Explanation of the Dharmsala Pics:

1. Christina spinning prayer wheels covered with prayer flags. Turning prayer wheels clockwise is a auspicious deed in buddhism because they are said to have mantras inside and when spun they are given the same good karma as if you were reading mantras (this is important for people who cant read). The prayer flags have mantras written on them two and when they blow in the wind the wind carrys the mantras and brings good things to the world. You can see them all over important buddhist sights.

2. This is part of a famous buddhist sight. It is said that Patma semboah (the spelling is completely wrong sorry ahah) meditated in this cave for a really long time. This guy is a god who chased out the bad spirits in tibet and allowed buddhism to grow there (if you didnt know buddhism started in india and was later brought into other parts of asia) The writing on the rock is a mantra.

3. That is me on a rock....

4. Me sticking out of Patma semboahs cave

5. The group after Holy, and hindu holiday where they throw paint on people. In most parts of india women cant even go outside on this day because the men are so drunk and touchy (as an understatment...i heard stories from the other people at the meditation retreat when i wasnt supposed to be talking...ahah) that it is really unsafe but luckily we got to participate because dharmsala is almost all tibetan with only a small population of indians so it didnt get crazy at all. it was small and fun.

6. A mural painted on a building by the dalai lamas temple. It was painted the day before the 50th anniversary of tibetan uprising day (march 10)

7. Stray dogs sleeping...sadly this is a really really common sight all over india.

8. View of one of the monk's quarters in dharmsala. The flag is the tibetan flag.

9. Some of the group and wangdue our buddhist philoshophy teacher

10. Sign opposing chinese rule

11. One of those is my homestay house

12. My homestay brother and one of my homestay sisters.

13. My homestay mom, homestay brother, and cindu their dog slash the love of my life

14. Me jumping in front of the Taj Mahal (check out the fanny pack! OH YEAH!)