From Manali

Hello everyone! We miss you. Delilah is missing her friends.

I write from one of the many travel agencies in Manali/Old Manali/ Vasheest. We will lkeave at 6 in the morning by jeep to Leh in Ladakh, going over at least 3 passes, one of which is extremely high. I asked the booking agent how we can make the trip safe, and he said, "pray." The good news is that I've been doing that a great deal already. I am assured that the drivers have at least 15 years experience, and that they are all mountain people, familiar with the roads here.

We are meeting many people from europe, had breakfast with a young woman from Belgium fresh from Dharamsala. She said the Olympic protests are very active there. There is one silent protest here, with 50 or so tibetans (mostly women) with black bands around their mouths, and signage about political prisoners in China. Miles, I think, feels some pangs of regrets that Dharmsala is not on our itinerary.

Manali is green and lush, with apples, mangoes, many kinds of flowers, and, yes, cannabis growing wild along the road. Smells, as we were told, are strong.

We now know that a monsoon does not necessarily mean it rains all the time, but rains can be quite heavy. As we drove from Delhi we saw most people without rain protection on the road, not to mention without shoes. Can be heartbreaking. We took a bicycle rickshaw in Delhi and I felt so guilty on a slight upshill that I jumped out, which may in fact have made it more difficult for the seemingly ancient driver.

Our sleep remains inconsistent, with all of us taking a 3 hour nap yesteday, and me waking before 5 this morning. I was told that one needs 1 day to adjust to every hour time difference.

Miles finally did some book business today, with some gorgeous handmade diaries. We toured one of le Corbusier's buildings in Chandigargh: the High Court. Extremely exciting for me, like a giant playground, and very majestic with the giant colored columns, sculptural concrete, see-through spaces.

Delilah says, "I miss you very much, I'll see you soon. After I get back I'll see you for sure." Animals seen: yaks, horses, monkeys, an elephant, cows, lots of them, all over the road, snakes in baskets, and lots of dogs. Every time we see a blond dog we all say, "Cooby!"

[Miles' ENTRY: extreme poverty, pestilence, mud, heat, slugs & monsoons: what a wonderous vacation!]
[part 2: brightly saried wone riding side saddle on the backs of motorbikes, excellent food, a constant atmosphere of devotion, lush wild life, the people playing and laughing despite their circumstances]

[Delilah says: I saw a dog and she followed us through a long park and I named her Jewelry and I wanted to keep her because we couldnt keep her in the hotel or fly her. Another dog today and he jumped up on us so much and I waas scared of course. ]

Love, and we're dreaming of you,

Love to our parents, we're safe and healthy!

Leah, Miles and Delilah