Tibetan Home Stay

How does one find a home stay? I followed my nose. The lure of fresh baked goods was all it took and I was hooked. It was that simple. 

McLeod Ganj is full of cafés but there is one stop that can't be missed - the Tibet Quality Bakery. It is a glass enclosure prominently displaying the goodies just out of the oven and stands at eye level to the street. From muffins, to cakes, to bread and yak cheese deciding what to try first is the difficult part.  

I scan the case and my mind goes into a spin at all the choice. Names like Lhasa cookies, Stampa chocolate ball and McLeod Dream bar all sound enticing. "The Black Forest bar is my favorite" says the Australian man to his girlfriend standing next to me who has the same wide-eye, slightly overwhelmed look I have. I decide to go for the mango muffin and step up onto the platform to place my order. A head pops over the display case and says "Good choice." 

In my relieved state of knowing I have chosen wisely, I notice a sign for Tibetan home stays and inquire about it. "Yes, let me show you" says the man behind the case and I am at once shown to a staircase that leads into a home. To my delight it is the baker's home. We go down a hallway and he opens the door to a bedroom. "This would be your room." I glance over my shoulder and note the baking kitchen at the head of the hall. Waking up to the smell of pastries and muffins baking in the oven? Sounds perfect to me!

06.08.14

Dharamkot, India

11:01am

I love me a freshly baked cake. I just couldn't resist. 

Dorjee and his brother-in-law, Dhordup, begin baking at 4:30am, opening the shop at 9am and tending to it until 9pm. 

Surrounded by monasteries, in the evenings I come home to the sound of the gong and dinner being served.

A place to call home for 10 days. 

My favorite picture of Chuki, my Tibetan Mom. 

And of course there was Nancy!