Greetings from a cosy orange cyber cafe in the heart of the Tibetan Colony of Majnukatilla. I have a small hotel room with a view of cooling vents, but a spacious vista from the balcony at the end of the hall - looking across the fields to the river. Feel like my body has half arrived, but my head is far behind, somewhere in the clouds/polluted smog above the city. The flight was not bad - they served a tasty curry (at about midnight) and then I discovered that at last I had the opportunity to watch the 5th Harry Potter movie - how did the whole summer go by and I missed it? Anyway it kept me entertained when I woke up from nodding sleep.
The guy sitting next to me was heading to Kathmandhu and we talked a bit about various Buddhist topics before I told him where I was going in Bodhgaya - oh he had been there last year and could give me lots of useful info. And he is attending the same retreat as me over Xmas when Lama Zopa Rinpoche (head of his lineage) is teaching at the Root Institute, where I am staying. Then when I mentioned the tiny seven room place where I will spend a few nights in Sarnath he laughed and could highly recommend the food and location - right next to the Great Stupa and site of the Buddha's first teaching. How can the world be so small?
Impressions of Delhi are brief and dazed: not too hot and sticky, cool breeze in the window. Herd of goats by the roadside. Mad traffic, and I suspect the roads were unusually quiet today as it is Diwali. The beggar boy who first approached my pre-paid taxi from the airport punched a hole in my heart with his soft brown eyes and I sat there unable to move, unable to give him anything. Now I am shopping for water and snacks, and collecting 'little money' which is a rare commodity. Hoping to catch a few fireworks before I sleep tonight. Will go now to find some tea
