Tibetan Ink

We are all crammed into a tiny internet cafe here on Temple road in McLeod Ganj-Danny and Yeshe are sitting side by side struggling through every combination of Tibetan words they can think of to create a good sounding name for Yeshe's tattoo and artwork business he is trying to start. They have set up a gmail account for him and are now working on a blogspot web site (free) and one Danny knows about. Yeshe, a young Tibetan man of slight build and knotted forearms from so many prostrations, who despite his very thin stature walked out of Tibet with two monks about 6 years ago and has carved a niche for himself among the other Tibetans here, utilizing every resource available to him for promoting and supporting himself. We have so much admiration for everything the Dalai Lama gov't has done, and India too, to help the refugees, who still climb mountain after mountain, recuperate in "reception" centers in Kathmandu and India and then finally make the final leg of their journey to Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj. Yeshe is fond of wearing his long black hair knotted on top of his head and has intense, steady deep brown eyes. He is Danny's English student and studies hard, he also is taking Tibetan music lessons and plays the "Dani" a long necked, wooden instrument that looks between a guitar and sitar-and Tibetan art lessons. We can all use lessons for this amazing people in how to combine resources and talents to help each other out and also to use whatever talents they have to support themselves. something we've remarked on many times--You never see a Tibetan standing on the street corner with their hand out, or trying to scam you in anyway. The Dala Lama offices have created an amazing pool of "orgs", non-profits that serve every niche of Tibetans, such as the Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet, an org here that hires ex-political prisoners who have escaped from Tibet as sewers and cooks for their Lung Ta Ex-Prisoner restaurant here (one of our favorites). We have been purchasing their beautifully sewn bags and coin purses,plus other items they create, and have been several times to photograph their factory, a serene airy room with large windows overlooking the INdia himalayas here with Tibetan music playing and singing going on while they work. NOt the sshop scene at all-as usual, Tibet seems laced with beauty in all they do.