Back in reality ( Kandy Sri Lanka)

Today I was released from the Vipassana centre Dhama kuta. I had a great course so different then last time. Last time I had so many expectations, but that made it so difficult. This time was compared to last time easy very easy. So yeah it was great and the centre is also a nice place. The centre is located on a hill with great views over the valley. 

 

Now I stay in Kandy at the Burm rest a nice and quit place with some very nice people.

--
Happy travels,
Ohm shanti, shanti, shanti
Meinoud
http://www.rijnentravel.blogspot.com
From Amsterdam to India by bus and train

Dhamma kuta Vipassana centre

Yesterday evening I arrived in Kandy which is in the centre, in the hills of Sri Lanka. It is here a bit cooler then along the coast were it is tropical.  The days before I spent in Unawatuna I stayed there 2 nights. Unawatuna is on the coast and has a small beach with many cafe and many Dutch and English people. From Unawatuna I made a day trip to Galle fort. Galle fort was constructed by the Dutch in 1663 and is pretty big 36 hectares and there still a number of Dutch buildings inside. The fort is a world Herritage site. It is great to walk on the walls overlooking the sea. Because of the walls all the buildings inside the fort were spared during the tsunami.

 

I'm now in Kandy and stay in the Old Empire hotel it is one of the cheapest (570 rps). The best part is the huge balcony with old chairs and tables overlooking the lake. Today I had a look at the temple with the tooth. Supposely there is inside the temple the tooth of Buddha, wauwwwwww. 

 

Tomorrow I will do another Vipassana course so the next 12 days I will not update my site.

 

Meinoud

--
Happy travels,
Ohm shanti, shanti, shanti
Meinoud
http://www.rijnentravel.blogspot.com
From Amsterdam to India by bus and train

Sri Lanka

Since 12 July I'm in Sri Lanka. On 12 July I flew from Chennai to Colombo. The airport in Chennai is surprisingly modern you can even eat drink something. In stayed in Colombo for one night (at the YMCA, the cheapest option) to buy a lonely planet of Sri Lanka I lost the old one at the airport in Chennai. From Colombo I took a train to Matara? and from there a bus to Marissa. Marissa is very quite at the moment with not many people and nice small beach. Today I took a bus to Unawatana this close to Galle, it is also a beach resort and there a bit more people.

 

--
Happy travels,
Ohm shanti, shanti, shanti
Meinoud
http://www.rijnentravel.blogspot.com
From Amsterdam to India by bus and train

22 june Leh to Nubra valley (written in Chennai)

In the early morning of 22 June at 6 am we took the local state bus to Nubra valley. Nubra valley is north of Leh and close to the Chinese border, for this we needed a permit to get there.

Settlements lay in a green oases. The valley is well cultivated and fertile. 

To get there we crossed the Kardung la pass with 5600 meter this is the highest motorable pass in the world and it takes 7 hours to get to Nubra valley. It took us little more because there was an accident between an army truck and normal truck blocking the road for more  then 2 hours. But in the afternoon we arrived in a small village called Hunder.

 

It was a really small village with no restaurants we stayed in Milkey Way guesthouse. The dinner man was not there so we went for another restaurant for dinner. The food was shitty and expensive. Not a great place but what to do. I shared my room with Baruch, Yuval, Ovid and Rotem shared the other room.

 

We got up early the next morning  we had breakfast together  and then we walked from Hunder to Diskit this about 7km but the nature was very amazing so it took us about 4 hours. Sitting taking pictures, crossing a river etc... The walk trough the dunes was just amazing.  The great think was that I found  a group of people  who did not mind to do things slowly and if we saw a new spot we just stoped again and again great....

 

In Diskit we split Rotem and I stayed in Diskit and the rest went to Panamik. Rotem and I shared a room and in the afternoon we had no luck with the food still crap.

 

The next day we learned that  the lama who comes next (the 16 reincarnation....) to the Dalai Lama is visiting our hotel for lunch. So we stay we see him coming and after that we go the place were he is giving a puja. Overthere were a lot of interesting people in Ladkhi clothes. When the 16 ... Lama enters he asked me from were I come from... after that we listen to his surmon..and the use of the drums and bells etc..Rotem made the mistake to say yes to Tibetan tea, she tried and it was discusting.I tried before in Kathmandu, i know it is discusting. In the evening we climbed up to Diskit Monastery from there we have an amazing view over the valley.

 

Sunday 25 June we took the "early" bus back to Leh supposedly it would come at 6 am but came at 7:30 am and that was to early because we had to wait another 2 hours at the pass before tha pass opens for the other side (our side). It is a one system, the bus could have easily leave at 9 am from Diskit. 

 

On the way to pass we got stuck between a broken truck and the wall on 5550 meter.. after some good work from the bus driver we could move again. 

 

In the evening I shared the room Rotem.. 

 

21 june leh ( written in Chennai)

In the evening I went to the Shanti stupa the see the change of colours in the Leh Valley. The mountains get there golden colours turning to red in the late evening. The white stupa, build by an Japanese order was opened by the Dalai Lama in 1985, has an amazing contrast with his surrounding the blue sky, the redish mountains and the white stupa just wauw............ 

Hemis (written in Chennai)

In the morning of Tuesday 20 June, we, Timo and I,  got up early to catch the only bus to Hemis.

Hemis monastery is about 40 km from Leh and takes about 2 hours by bus. Last time when I went to Spittuk I was a bit late and had to hang out of the door. This time the bus left the bus station not completely full. We past Shey and Tiksey on the right I saw the snow top mountains of the Stok range.

 

Halfway an old Ladakhi steps in the bus, he wears a dirty old Ladki coat. The coat is dark purple/ brown and full of stains with the traditional coat he wears sneakers.This is a very common combination a traditional coat with sneakers. The old man has in his right had a rosary, with every beat he murmurs "Ohm mani pad me hum". He continues till we are close to Hemis in Karu he steps out as most of the other people. 

 

With only one other Ladki we turn right up towards Hemis.  In the distance we saw the first signs of something with the appearing of some small white stupas and Mani walls. But the monastery is hiding himself in the far back of the valley between trees and a river. 

 

Hemis was founded in the early 17 century and belongs to the Brokpa order. 

After visiting we went to another gompa 2 km away above and on 4250 meter the highest Hermitage of Ladakh. In this Gompa ( I have to look up the name) live about 30 lama's. To climb up it took us about 1,5 hours, crossing some small streams jumping from stone to stone. We past a school for novice munks palying cricket. In the Hermitage we were invited for a cup of tea and we saw the praying hall. Of the about 30 lamas, 15 are in meditation for up  to 3 years. They van not leave the boundaries of there meditation retreat. We helped one of the Monk wit cutting some glass. After that we walked down to Hemis, there was no bus back to Leh so we walked slowely to Karu about 7 km down hill. In Karu we hitchhiked and returned to Leh in the back of minivan.  It was a great day.