On my first trip to India, the longest I spent in one place was 3 nights. Pedaling from one place to another, you get to see a lot of things while at the same time getting a personal view of the people, landscape and culture. However, it is only after staying in one place for a week or longer that you can develop regular routines and fully become intimate with the place. Your presence begins to be expected and when things change it is noticed.
During my second week in Dharamsala, my scheduled changed. My class started at 7am, finishing at 10:30am and after 3.5 hours of work, I craved a hearty meal. Making my way down the hill into Dharamkot and my regular post-yoga hangout, a man came up along side me and said "You are late." I, taken by surprise that he was talking to me and somewhat confused by his meaning, tried to figure out how to respond. I had been quiet proud of myself making it to the early morning class on time and had been patting myself on the back that I had made it through another day of stretching and twisting. All I could come up with was "I am?" "Yes you are usually here at 9:30am." Then it dawned on me, he must be one of the local townsmen/tuk-tuk drivers/shop keepers who hang out at the top of hill on the road between McLeod Ganj and Dharamkot. I am usually catching my breathe after the climb and taking a quick glance at my watch to see how much time I have before I am late to yoga. I pay no mind to the group of men hanging out, drinking chai. A "Namaste" might exchange, but as I am focused on not being late, I quickly make my way down the backside of the hill to the Center. "Ah yes" I respond "the time of my yoga class has changed."
This morning as I reached the top of the hill and began to raise my hand to look at my watch, a man proclaimed in my direction "You come up here each morning but you never stop at my shop." This time not surprised that I would be recognized, I respond "I know but you are always on the way to somewhere, not that somewhere." He smiles. That is life in a small mountain village.
06.07.14
McLeod Ganj, India
8:36am
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