Delhi... Mumbai (read: Bollywood!)... Home!

So, the final blog entry begins... After two days in Delhi spent mostly shopping for pressies (so many hours asking "do you have a Habajhan Singh t-shirt for my Pa" - and many hours playing singing bowls) I was just about out of money! I prepaid my taxi to the airport and made my way. Arriving at Mumbai, I called a Bollywood agent and asked if he had any work available for the day. He said yes, but I would have to get into town quickly... bummer, given the cash situation, I had been planning to take the bus. He suggested I get a taxi and when I arrived he paid for me and took me out to the set.
I walked into a room full of Indian men and one western woman, who had a pile of pink lacy garment next to her on the couch. I had a small panic about what kind of film I might have signed up for and declared that I would not be wearing anything like that!
Turns out the pink lacy was a quite respectable and cute top, and I was given a fabulous gold sequined dress that was great apart from its rather accentuating my boobs (like they need to be accentuated!!). The scene was an underground card playing bar and I basically played cards and chatted with some fellas for the day. I even got a speaking part... as the lead walked into the room, he touched me on the head and said "Hey babe", to which I replied with a wave, "Hey!". How's that for a filming debut! He he he.
After filming I was safely deposited back at my guest house. I spent a few hours helping the agent to find people for the next day's work (to earn some extra cash), but at the last minute the shoot was cancelled and thus my anticipated pay unavailable. Luckily, I was surrounded by lovely and generous travellers who were happy to give me enough rupees for the taxi ride out to the airport, some food and some sightseeing. I have been so blessed and supported during my travels, it has been amazing!
Am now back in Vic as a new adventure begins. I will be couch-surfing until I find somewhere lovely to live. Have already applied for six jobs - none of which I am extremely excited about however I need to bring in some cash soon. Am so looking forward to seeing everyone again! Mobile is functional so give me a yell if you want to catch up!!

Thanks so much for sharing my travel experiences... it has been great to know that others have been keeping track of my adventures. Lots and lots and lots of love, Chelle

Mcleod Ganj...Amritsar... Delhi...

Ooops, it's been a while since I last wrote! Am now in my last few days of travel before my new adventure begins (work as a health professional back in Melbourne). I spent a full month in Mcleod Ganj and witnessed the amazing onset of the monsoon. High in the hills, the monsoon officially arrives on June 15th, however a few days before there was an incredible downpour of rain (like, not just buckets, but full truckloads of water dumping the streets, buildings... everything). I walked the streets of Mcleod then up to Bhagsu and was drenched... even my brand new umbrella couldn't cope as I received a fine mist rain through the material! As I walked, I saw part of the hill adjascent to the road fall in a small landslide. It's amazing how quickly the road itself began to disintegrate. The stairs up to my guest house in Upper Bhagsu were pretty much a waterfall! In the week after this first fall, Mcleod became better known as M-Cloud... the entire town shrouded in mist most of the time. We all started to miss the sun fairly quickly.

On the 17th, a small group of Tushita people took a taxi out past Tashi Jong to meet Ani Tenzin Palmo. She is an amazing woman, a western nun who spent 12 years in meditation retreat in a cave in Northen India (you can read her story in Cave in the Snow - Vicki McKenzie). She welcomed us warmly and spent an hour with us, answering questions and giving spontaneous teachings. I feel so much gratitude to have had this opportunity to meet someone whom I deeply respect and admire. I am very inspired to continue to practice meditation and to go into a longer retreat sometime soon.

The following few days I spent assisting the 'Israeli Friends of Tibetan People' in promoting an awareness-raising event; Tibet- Now and Tomorrow. We put posters all over Mcleod, Dharamkot and Bhagsu and handed out many leaflets to travellers. The evening was a success, with over 120 people hearing about the recent history of Tibet (since 1949) and the story of an ex-political prisoner. The evening concluded with some volunteers chatting about the work they are doing to support the Tibetan people - Chris, Kinh and Sylvie rocked and Niv did an amazing job pulling it all together!

Next day, I travelled to Amritsar where I spent time at the Golden Temple... an amazing place of worship - even when I woke at 4am to catch the train, there were hundreds of pilgrims walking about the temple. I stayed in the tourist dorm and just outside there were hundreds of Indian pilgrims sprawled on the floor for the night. Dinner was an astoudingly efficient event... handed a plate, bowl and spoon, I was directed upstairs where I joined a long line (among many long lines) of people sitting on the floor. Fellas with massive buckets of dahl, chappati and some coconut stuff went by slopping food straight in the bowls. It was great!

The train ride the next morning to Delhi on the Shantibadi Express was the best ever... breakfast, heaps of room and arrival on time!! Amazing!! Have completed my gift shopping now and am just about out of cash so will probably just wander the streets of Mumbai tomorrow after my flight and get some relax time in!

See you all soon!!

Love Chelle

Happy Dalai Lama Days!

What an amazing few days! Since emerging from Tushita, I feel like I have been flat out socializing! It is wonderful to have connected with a group of truly wonderful people and I feel so blessed. I have been making music with some gorgeous Israeli boys (guitar and vocals) and a French-Canadian woman (violin). Slowly, my friends are departing Mcleod to travel north to Ladakh, however I have decided to stay put for these last few weeks... Shanti, shanti!
Each afternoon from Monday-Wednesday last week, I went to the Nyingmar Monastery to receive teachings on calm abiding meditation. It was great to go into greater depth regarding the technique and path of calm abiding meditation… however we were told that if we went into full-time retreat it would take between one month and one year to attain the state of calm abiding… and that is only the beginning of the Buddhist meditation path!! I am already considering going into a three month retreat next year.
Early on Tuesday morning we made our way down to His Holiness (HH) the Dalai Lama’s temple to await his arrival. Slowly the crowd grew as more and more Tibetans, Indians and foreigners gathered. After a number of hours, the clouds broke and we were drenched with a refreshing rain. His Holiness’s car flew by and everyone whipped out cameras on video setting… On slow motion you can just see his head in silhouette!
The next day, we made our way to the temple again to attend a Puja – HH, in his infinite compassion, was making prayers for the victims of the China earthquake. We waited downstairs for his arrival and were blessed to see him walk past only 1.5 meters away. His energy was absolutely beautiful and overwhelming and I was in a state of absolute joy. Later, after the Puja, we saw HH again and I couldn’t help but cry tears of joy. He is truly amazing and special! He is truly Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion! Om Mani Padme Hum!
The following two days we went to the Tibetan Children’s Village, where HH was giving teachings to Tibetan youth. Again, I was blessed to see him another four times, and to listen to the teachings translated over the radio. Such a special few days! On the final day, I took my camera and was able to take a few photos that I will cherish as a reminder of my ‘meeting’ the Dalai Lama.
Yesterday, a small group of Tushita people made the journey down through Dharamsala to see the Norbulingka Institute, a beautiful place where Tibetan culture is being preserved. We saw artists creating stunningly intricate Thangka paintings (paintings representing Tibetan Buddhist Deities), embroidery and other crafts. Afterward, we journeyed to the Gyuto Monastery where we met HH the Karmapa. He is the head of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism (you can check him out at www.karmapa.org). He is only 22 years old but already a powerful monk and we were able to receive a blessing from him.
This morning I have left my comfortable room in Mcleod-town and have headed to the hills of Upper Bhagsu. I have a gorgeous little cottage (a cow lives downstairs!) that I have made home and I plan to spend the next couple of weeks just relaxing, reading, meditating, singing and walking amongst the trees! Oh, and I will write and send the occasional job application too!