When you’re sitting on top of the world, you feel like anything is possible, and it really puts things into perspective. Like yesterday, when we had a day off due to Republic Day in India, and Harmit took Agata and I on a little field trip to Billings Mountain, about an half hour’s drive outside of Palampur. When we got there, we began another half-hour drive up the side of the mountain on a one-lane, rocky road that wouldn’t even be called a road if it were in the U.S. As we got higher and higher, Agata and I began to feel some effects of the thin air. Being in a small, rickety car didn’t help either.
Don’t worry, there were no problems, and we got to the top of the mountain without a hitch. At about 9,600 feet or 2,600 meters, you could see for miles and miles (kilometers and kilometers). The weather was wonderful, and we just sat there and observed. Believe it or not, people actually maintain continuous residence at that altitude. They grow their own food, and there is enough fresh water to keep them comfortable. No electricity and no running water, but these people like the simple life. They don’t want anything else besides what they already have.
After the descent, we were treated to another example of minimalism as we toured a newly built Tibetan monastery. One of the monks, Lobsang, was kind enough to show us around and tell us about the temple. Did you know monks have cell phones? Anyway, we were also on a search for momos, a small Chinese dumpling that Harmit said I must try, so we asked Lobsang:
“Do you know if there is a place that serves good momos around here?”
“Sure.”
“Can you show us?”
“Of course.”
“Want to eat momos with us?”
“Yes.”
So we had dinner with a monk. Something I didn’t think I’d be experiencing on this trip.
By the time we got back to Palampur, we were all pretty sick of driving, and just wanted to go home, take a bucket bath and eat dinner. Unfortunately, the night before, the water in the whole house stopped running. It had been that way all night and all day, and Agata and I were really hoping that it would come back on, but no avail. How many Indians does it take to turn the water back on? Only one to go in the basement and realize that the master pipe was turned off. Water came rushing back in full force, and we were greeted by a torrential spray from a slightly leaky faucet in the bathroom. Turns out the water pressure had been building for over 24 hours, and that kind of pressure does funny things to leaky sinks.
No problem, though. Everything went back to normal by bedtime, and we fell asleep, content that at least one more luxury in life had returned to us. Maybe we’re not ready to live on top of a mountain or in a monastery, forgoing the conveniences of industrialized life, but just knowing it is possible makes us feel a little better about the future.
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Hi Patrick! - It's Mrs. Miller - What a wonderful writer you are! I've so enjoyed reading about your experience.
ReplyDeleteSomeplace on your blog page it said I could ask a question, and since I've never 'blogged' before I'm not sure if this where I do it or not ... but here goes ... You mention vegan cooking .... Is this something you must do because that is how people of India eat OR just the type of food you want to introduce to the students?
Talk to you soon -- Take Care : )
Vegetarianism in India is a bit different than in America. In the states, vegetarians who don't eat meat usually eat eggs. It is vegans who eat no animal products of any kind, including eggs, milk, other dairy products and the like. In India, vegetarianism means no meat, but also no eggs. It's just the culture there considers eggs to be a form of meat.
ReplyDeleteYet as you know, cows are very sacred in India and to the Hindus for many reasons, one of which is all the wonderful milk that they provide. Really, I'm drinking the best milk here that I have ever tasted. This also makes coffee and tea here wonderful.
Anyway, there isn't a single India I know who refuses dairy, but a significant percentage of the population here (probably over half, but I can't be sure) is vegetarian, which means they don't eat eggs. So, any baking venture that I undertake will have to cater to that audience, which means that I will need to find baked goods that do not include eggs. Sure, there are plenty of people here who will eat my awesome brownies (like Harmit, who has already requested them twice), but if I want to appeal to the greatest number of people here, I should try mostly eggless recipes.
It's actually easier than baking vegan stuff, too. Their recipes usually call for margarine, soymilk and tofu. Instead I can use cream, yogurt, delicious milk, and some of the best butter I have ever tasted.
Sounds difficult to cook without eggs, but you're so resourceful and still have so many wonderful dairy products to use that I'm certain you'll come up with some interesting dishes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lesson in Indian taste-buds!! Good Luck!