Manali

In Manali. Feeling dreadful. Had some lettuce in Shimla, and now I can manage to get my stool through the eye of a needle. The ride up was really beautiful - up mountain passes, along rivers, across bridges, through tunnels (Brendan, you'd cream yourself). Had a blowout along the way, but the universe was with us, and we weren't going fast, and we were only 100m away from an auto repairs shop. Got drenched in the rain.

Many people on Enfields up here in Manali. Manali is a quaint hippie hangout (mostly Israeli hippies). From our room (where I have spent most of my time) you can look up to the high mountain ridges, covered in pine trees and thin clouds. The river roars along side the village.

I dreamt I was a river flowing up the mountain passes, with the front tyre of motorbikes coming from the sides into my water.

Not sure yet what the plan is for tomorrow. Either make our way to Leh (a three day ride) to catch a world music festival, and to see the Dalai Lama. Or to stay here for another day, eat something, and go to a trance party in the mountains.