Bir

Bir is up on a mountain and took over an hour to get there. It's not far from where the bus dropped us, but it takes time to get through the narrow winding roads. They were littered with hairpin turns and again that same India driving experience albeit in certain moments less cars at a time, which meant we drove in the center of the road beeping before every corner in case there was oncoming traffic. We still over took massive trucks on these narrow mountain roads, and we beeped at cows and dogs in the way. As we drove through towns that look the same as I saw in Delhi, pedestrians would move in and out and through the stream of cars. The small towns had the same markets, the same buildings, the same people doing the same thing…. surviving.

This was this moment that I realized this is India. These towns, this setting, this look, this is India for the most part. The beauty changes in the backdrop of nature and the architecture of great temples and things left behind from the deep history of the country. But the markets, the storefronts, the shoe cobbler, the seamstress, the meat market, the tire place…. All of them can be fond in each place and occupy space that looks and feels the same in every town, big or small.

I imagine the same can be said about America. We have stores and super markets, and they all look the same, just the natural backdrop and historical treasures change. This is what gives us comfort. This is also what makes traveling to places far different from ours feel so uncomfortable and unsafe. It makes it very important to immerse yourself in discomfort so you must surrender to the new normal to find safety in any situation. When you can do that you can let go of fearing the unknown.

When we arrived at the new home it was around 10 am which was just in time for breakfast. We were immediately welcomed by those already staying there as we ate omelets and chopati. We all chatted about where we were from and our

experiences in Delhi, which most of them had also experienced. Then we were given our rooms.

If you ask a local Indian about Bir, they would say there is Bir and there is the Tibetain refugee colony. If you ask a Tibetain they would say there is Bir, and upper Bir. I stayed in Bir (or the Tibetain refugee colony depending on who you ask). It is a small vibrant community where the world paragliding competition occurs. While I didn't get a chance to paraglide due to weather, looking back I know once I got up on that mountian I would have. Next time I visit it will be on top of the to do list.

The town is much quieter and more peaceful than

Delhi. It looked similar as with most of India, but it has a completely different vibe, and we all loved it. Lama gave us an introduction to the culture and the town.

The monasteries in Bir are beautiful. They are open to the public and a place for peaceful mediation and prayer. Llama showed us the place where monks, if they choose, will go into silence for 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days. In that time they study, mediate, and pray until they are able to leave. Tibetan parents send their children to the monasteries to get them out of danger and offer them an opportunity to learn Tibetan culure and religion. When they are 18 they can choose their own path. They can go into silence to continue on

as a monk or take a different path to university or work.

The monasteries each offered something different. One of the monasteries has a shop where they make prayer flags. All the flags hung from each home came from this place. Those that received prayer flags from me, this is where they came from. Deer Park monastery had a library where you could take out books, and a store with incense special made with traditional ingredients. If you received incense from me, it likely came from here.

Last but not least was there was the the Garden Cafe. This place was a gem and offered a place to sit around a table, apply the bug spray

conveniently provided for all, and drink coffee, get ice-cream, and many other delicious foods. We went there almost every night. The owners knew the volunteers that rolled through the Dawa house, and we were all fixtures at the Garden. Throughout the evening groups of us would show up. The food at the home stay was amazing, but Garden Cafe made it easy to get a second delicious meal or treat all for less than 3$ and it also gave us a place to get out of the home.