Saturday, December 20
Bhutan, landlocked Himalayan country, it remain frozen throughout year. As I was born in the Southern foothills I find hard to bear cold, yet thinking make so. It was beyond my hope and expectation that in New York it will be snowing. As I peep through window, a beautiful foam drops continuously wherein a lovely street light add a brilliant shining on it. When morning broke, I saw a white thick foam covered in every walking side and it bring joy to my heart. I started to walk in but my shoe was not good as it slip time and again. I walk in caution, my eyes focusing to back and forth for the rushing cars too. I had my regular coffee with steam milk that Anna had taught a few days back. After a while I started to browse on computer and walk to the shrine hall. I happened to meet about five Bhutanese friends who were visiting The Dragon’s Gift. They shared with me a tea and ever expecting talk that comfort my living. Amongst all a straight forward gentle man, Sonam, crack a joke where I shed tear of laughing and crunching of my stomach. At around 5:00 I went to Tashi’s house for dinner. We had Bhutanese rice, ema datsi, dhal and other dishes too. Time to time Tashi come up with programme that cheer my day and her friends of mine friend too, especially Aum Sonam and Patricia. My hope never turn down, rather bring joy by every companion of New Yorker. Having dinner I left to my home and went to bed.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I have been reading your blog and you make mention of the cold and the noise in NYC. I moved from NYC 4 years ago to Vermont, very close to the Canadian border.
The people here just don’t go out when it is cold and things shut down that in NYC would stay open in a storm. I thought that in VT they would be well equipped for such an event as a big storm, but not so. But, the population is much small in the entire state. The other thing is that it is very silent here, people don’t honk their horns in traffic, I never heard anyone argue. It is a much smaller world. I had the opportunity to be alone in the woods for about 2 and half years and it was a rewarding retreat after a frantic lifestyle in the city.
I got to know myself but now I have moved closer to a big city. What I miss about the retreat are the birds, the rabbits, deer, and wild turkeys that used to be in my driveway and sometimes my back yard. I found them great company but after a while I moved closer to a larger city closer to stores and services. But, in Vermont, even here it is very calm and quiet. Everyone should get the opportunity to be totally still and find out what comes from within and not from outside. But, I do wish I was back in NYC now because I miss the great libraries and museums and many temples that I used to go to plus the Tibet Center. I wish you the best.