Baba time

Ok, see some tents and a white building in the middle? This is Lal Baba's Ashram, about halfway to Tapovan from Gangotri. There are these kinds of Ashrams all over the Himalayas, and ask Bansi for the most cynical perspective on them. They are like hotels for travelers - mostly Indian pilgrims, Western new-agers, and hikers. Unfortunately I dont have a photo of any of the Babas- Bro didja get any? I shall attempt a description. Lal Baba is dead and gone so i cant describe him. But i'm sure he wore saffron, had a loud voice, was prone to blast his minions, wore Raybans, smoked pot, and was a pioneer in hotel management in the Himalayas. His current replacement, name i forget, was a lean guy with long hairs, Raybans, saffron robes, loud voice etc. He sat at a desk on the whitewashed mud-and-brick patio/courtyard directing the accomodation of all the travelers - and there were many, this being a major pilgrim route. Its a roaring business.

We also stayed at an Ashram - stone dwellings in Tapovan- Simla Baba's ashram. Only Bansi engaged in conversation with these Babas, I somehow could'nt. Next to the stone dwellings was Bangalore Mata, a woman Baba who was a world-wise woman (been to New York etc) in her older avatar, speaks English, Kannada and Hindi. She lived in a tent and chanted south indian ragas perched atop a rock in freezing temperature. Also in Tapovan are Bengali Mata and Mauni Baba. It seems Mauni Baba bashed Bengali Mata on the knee with his trishul, as a result of which cops dragged him away, bashed him and extorted Rs. 7000. I mostly believe this story, but its impossible to believe that Indian cops trekked to Tapovan to get him.

As i said earlier, the trek to Bhojbasa was beautiful- here are some pictures:

Bhoj1.JPG ; debbie1.JPG ; Bhoj2.jpg

And there are some great shots from earlier -
around Gangotri, including views of the gorge and the mountains:
view.jpg ; Kiss%20rock.jpg; Two_girls.jpg

on the way to Gangotri, including Bro doing something...:

riverside.jpg ; Bro.jpg