From Brahma to Buddha, Fall 2008

Its 9:55 PM in Ladakh which means its 12:25 PM where I was born and 5:25 PM where my mom was born (Morocco), greetings from SECMOL, short for Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh. We begin our trek through the Markha Valley on the 3rd of October. I don’t know where that is…it’s in India. News from the US seems to be continually and increasingly bad. Fear not though, will all soon be under the watchful guise of a man who crashed his plane five times and a woman who thinks that humans and dinosaurs used to coexist…yeehah! I was worried the country would collapse if I left, so I apologize in advance for unleashing this upon you all. Staying in Domkhar for a week was fun, there I discovered two passions:

1. Spitting hot fire (Rapping)
2. Dancing traditional Ladakhi grooves (Making an idiot of myself)

Mom, guess what?! I’m not going to shave my face while I’m in India; I’m going to comeback a woolly mammoth, tusks and all. I’m doing this partially out of laziness but also because Wade is largely incapable of growing facial hair so I have volunteered to be a vessel for this dream of his. I’m a humanitarian, what can I say. At this point in the trip, I have one thing I miss more than anything else in the world: Ice, this country is devoid of it. A cold drink here is rarer than a snow leopard. The chocolate here isn’t up to snuff either, I don’t know what it is about Western society but hot damn can we make chocolate and chill drinks perhaps that should be the definition of a developed nation.

The road signs here are hilarious, as well as thoughtful. Here are a few examples for your amusement:

“I am Curvaceous, Be Slow.”
“Be Mr. Late, Not Late Mr.”
“No Race, No Rally, Enjoy Beauty of the Valley”
“Speed is a Knife Which Cuts Short the Life”

That’s it for now. Hopefully I’ll have something more insightful to say after trek. Sorry I was in a silly mood tonight. Anyway, it has been a pleasure as always.

We’ll meet again, don’t know where don’t know when.

-Doug B.