Bhagsu Cake

When our children were babies Bryan came to Dharamsala. He says it's changed a lot. It's still a beautiful place nestled in the foothills of the himalayas but the hotels have spread like a rash up the valley and the stoner hippies from Goa have invaded the peace.
We've had a relaxing few days though not doing much. We visited the Dalai Llamas temple and monastery. I had heard how a sense of peace hits you as soon as you step inside so I was rather bemused to instead be hit by a cacophony of raised voices and slapping sounds as I walked up the stairs. A very strange sight greeted us in the temple. A garden full of monks in maroon robes, arguing at the top of their voices, making loud slapping gestures, grinning widely and obviously having a great time. Apparently it's a learning tool for monks. They eventually stopped slapping and got down to some more peaceful chanting. The Tibet museum at the monastery was interesting and told a grim story.
We had a lovely walk up in to the hills this morning, on paths of shale, past a plunging waterfall which chilled the air.
I can see why the young folk like it here in Dharamsala. Good food, good coffee and it seems like you can learn to do just about anything with courses for cooking,yoga,wood carving,singing,massage,knitting,reiki,jewellery making,drumming etc. We seem to have spent quite a bit of time learning which are the best cafes.
After 6 weeks of not a single cake or dessert I have discovered Bhagsu cake which is only made in the village of Bhagsu where we are staying. It is a divine very thin slice of biscuit base, caramel and chocolate. Same same but different to our caramel slice. It's only made in Bhagsu so it's probably just as well we're off to tomorrow. We're going to srenegar in Kashmir. There's been a bit of pre election unrest in Kashmir with demonstrations and curfews so hopefully that's over by the time we get there.

Namaste Sandy