We've had a great week. On Thursday, we went to a tea estate and learned how tea is made. We walked all around the whole estate. In addition to tea plants, the owner has kiwi plants, mango trees, and lemon trees. When you crush a leaf from a lemon tree in your hand, it smells like the citrus fruit. The owner, a funny, rotund man with thick white hair and mustache and with suspenders, showed us the manufacturing equipment which is all in an ancient stone two-story building. There is a withering machine, a rolling machine, a grater, and a heater (also looking very old). This particular tea plantation was purchased from the British at the time of Independence, and most of the tea plants are 150 years old.
On Saturday (yesterday), five of us went to Dharamsala for the day. The pictures show two views from a cafe where we had tea and one view of the group taken at a restaurant called Carpe Diem where we ate both lunch and dinner, and where the waiters recognized some of our group from an outing earlier in the week. This restaurant seems to be the place where Europeans and Americans hang out. The food was good--fried rice for lunch and butter naan, potato/carrot veggie burger with spinach sauce, and a giant Kingfisher beer for supper. Dharamsala is the place where the Dalai Lama's government in exile is--actually it's called McLeod Gange (the city), but I think everyone equates Dharamsala with McLeod Gange. We did not make it to the Tibetan museum, instead spending the day shopping!! It was so fun. There are many, many shops filled with hand-crafted goods created by Tibetan refugees, and street stalls line the road. There are also a lot of European Americans and hippies.
We left after dinner. Our cab driver stayed in Dharamsala all day to wait for us, and the total cost of the trip (an hour ride up, an hour ride back, plus waiting all day) only cost 1200 Rs, which comes to about $24. Can you believe that? $24 for all day cab service.
Today everyone woke up late, and now we are enjoying our breakfast tea. Namaste!
3 comments:
I loved the pictures. That sounds like a great day. The people seem so nice.
I went last night and sat in the hot tub with your Mother and Sister. We had a nice visit. I had missed this post so got an update from Mef. I'm looking forward to seeing the silk rug - you have to bring treasures to Cookeville and have a show and tell. We all talked about how happy we are that you are having such a good time.
Also, visited with your Granny on the phone Sat. She is turning into Chatty Cathy. She said that she was feeling better except for her legs sometime. I think she and June are planning a Cooeville trip sometime this week.
Love you!
It is great to hear you are having such a great time. Ed is doing fine and will be glad to see you I am sure.
Love,
Kirk
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