I am safely and happily in Darjeeling. And it is just as beautiful as I imagined. Yesterday we drank (Darjeeling) tea and watched the sun set on the mountains. And were were at the same level as the clouds.

We are living nestled in the hills, with the landscape dropping thousands of feet to one side and rising hundreds of more on the other. And it's cold. Cold! It feels so wonderful to be cold. We went shopping at the street markets last night and stocked up on socks and hats and underjohns. But we only need them in the morning and the night. During the day the sunshine is so warm and wonderful. I love it.

This morning we went for a walk looking for breakfast and got lost in a maze of steep hills and steeper stairs in tiny alleys and houses and hillside. We were walking down our thousandth step of steps and a woman stopped us with a smile, "Where are you going?" she asked. "We have no idea," we responded. "Come, Come," she beckoned us and welcomed us into her small home and sat us down on some chairs. She served us tea and cookies and said it is a tradition to serve tea to strangers. We chatted (her brother does kung fu and tai chi, and she said I should come back tomorrow because he will be visiting and we could do a session together. But I will be too embarassed. But it was nice). And we talked about religion and politics and all the things you're not supposed to, but it was wonderful. She told us about her love for all religions and people and about the protests happening up here (mostly peaceful hunger protests by students). Darjeeling wants to separate from the State of West Bengal and form their own state so they can have their own representation of governemnt. She smiled and said, "some day we'll be free." Apparently the central Indian government already supports them but of course West Bengal doesn't because Darjeeling is their largest source of income, producing 25% of India's tea. It's always about money in the end, isn't it?

And here we are in the mountains bordering Nepal, Tibet, and India. And it's absolutely wonderful. The cleanest air. And kindest people. And most beautiful mountains.

There are beautiful Buddhist prayer flags hung everywhere. And the people say that when the wind hits them, it carries their prayers to the heavens. And every house, no matter how small, has dozens and dozens of flowers - marigolds. And more marigolds. And I think I could stay here happily for a very long time.

But we will only be here for a few more days, then Esther and I will head deeper into the mountains to Sikkum and back to Darjeeling before home. It will be much more difficult to write posts (and anything internet related for that matter) while I'm here, so I apologize in advance that posts and emails will be few and far between. But I will be thinking my thoughts of you all, and everytime the wind brushes my face it will carry them home to you. Promise.