Meditation is at 4 pm and 6 am daily, so there's time to settle in, enquire unsuccessfully about 'doing service', and check out the small shops on the ground floor of the Devaloka Guest House. Plenty of Tibetan Potalo Incense and a few interesting books, plus an ample stock of toilet paper. Dinner finishes at 6.30, so by 6 we're exploring a cheap and cheerful looking menu dominated by noodle dishes, vegetables and soup. Not a dal makhani or pakora in sight.
Tables are filling with Buddhist monks. Must be their boys' night out. A young boy at the table opposite, seated alone except for his school books, receives a hot hearty looking meal of crips noodles and vegetables. He begins to devour it in huge mouthfuls. I venture to ask what it is, to refrain from my Indian cuisine mindset to something a bit more oriental.
"Vegetable chow mein," he offers through a full mouth.
Paneer, mushrooms ... looks good. We take a chance and order stir fry vegetable noodles, mixed vegetables, and settle for vegetale fried rice in tbe absence of plain steamed. Food service is prompt. Just add the hot chilli sauce and get eating.
"See this airplane here has no wings, " comes at me out of left field. We're suddenly engaged with our vegetable chow mein boy, who we discover is 6, no wait 8, years oldand named Rishi. He is proudly on a learning crusade involving transport, communication, geography and the student edition of the Mahabharata.
I think this will be a good introduction to this famous, although long-winded, Indian tale, so arrange to borrow said text for a few days. His mother arrives and after rapid fire conversation about banking, Australia, and mispronunciation of the 'Mahabharata, he sneaks in a possible invitation by his parents for us to share Diwali celebrations with him. Let's see!
Tables are filling with Buddhist monks. Must be their boys' night out. A young boy at the table opposite, seated alone except for his school books, receives a hot hearty looking meal of crips noodles and vegetables. He begins to devour it in huge mouthfuls. I venture to ask what it is, to refrain from my Indian cuisine mindset to something a bit more oriental.
"Vegetable chow mein," he offers through a full mouth.
Paneer, mushrooms ... looks good. We take a chance and order stir fry vegetable noodles, mixed vegetables, and settle for vegetale fried rice in tbe absence of plain steamed. Food service is prompt. Just add the hot chilli sauce and get eating.
"See this airplane here has no wings, " comes at me out of left field. We're suddenly engaged with our vegetable chow mein boy, who we discover is 6, no wait 8, years oldand named Rishi. He is proudly on a learning crusade involving transport, communication, geography and the student edition of the Mahabharata.
I think this will be a good introduction to this famous, although long-winded, Indian tale, so arrange to borrow said text for a few days. His mother arrives and after rapid fire conversation about banking, Australia, and mispronunciation of the 'Mahabharata, he sneaks in a possible invitation by his parents for us to share Diwali celebrations with him. Let's see!
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