BecomingBeyond

The most memorable moment of my stay in Northern India was without a doubt the personal encounter with His Holiness the XIV. Dalai Lama. Not only as a significant historical figure but as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, perhaps the only truly authentic leader in the world today, he represents genuine values. Even at…

Tsampa is roasted barley, the daily food of Tibetan people. Very typical in Tibet. This was the first dish I tasted in Mcleod Ganj. Tsampa tastes like ‘earth’ so barely any taste therefore it is nice to add honey in the porridge. After eating this, I was full for the entire day 😁 This is…

Since the Dalai Lama lives in Dharamshala/Mcleod Ganj this is where the largest number of Tibetans in exile reside, along with the institutions for Tibetans in exile that are responsible for preserving and nurturing the Tibetan language, culture and religion. When the Chinese army occupied Tibet in 1959, the Dalai Lama, then both the political…

One of the most accessible hiking spots in this part of the Himalayas is Triund Hill, at 2870 meters. It’s special because although the trail is “only” 9 km round trip, the elevation gain is over 1100 meters. The view from the top is spectacular: you can clearly see the higher, 4000+meter peaks of the…

When traveling to other continents and cultures, it’s not just beautiful landscapes and exciting experiences that characterize the journey; many discomforts also arise. Some you know or even expect by knowing country characteristics. Ideally, these are overshadowed by the positive experiences but I think it’s important to mention that travel isn’t always easy, especially in…

North of Dharamshala is McLeod Ganj. Here lives the Dalai Lama along with the Tibetan refugee community who arrived here in 1959, when the Chinese occupied Tibet. I met a Tibetan who was 15 years old at the time. He told me they walked for two months across the Himalayas until they reached India. The…