visiting hours

I have tried, no less than 5 times, to post a description of my breakfast with Khandro Ten'dzin Drölkar wearing longjohns - me, that is, wearing the longjohns. She arrived at our room around 8am, escorted by Mé-sèl, who had run into her in the street, accompanied by her brother-in-law who speaks English (somewhat). That is normal Tibetan visiting hours in Bodha. She used to come around 7am but has probably accommodated herself to decadent Western habits.

She brought hard-boiled eggs, chapatis, and a huge thermos of sweet tea. I was wearing a white turtleneck shirt and long underwear, which I wear under my robes because it's cold here unless you're standing in a direct path to the sun with nothing in between you and it.


Khandro Ten'dzin Drölkar always comes to see Pema Zangmo when she's here, and Pema Zangmo is sharing a room with me. Pema Zangmo had been wondering if she would even be able to see Khandro Ten'dzin Drölkar on this trip. She usually just runs into her around the chörten. She had written when she was coming but it turned out the letter had gotten lost. Pema Zangmo and Khandro Ten'dzin Drölkar have been friends for many years.

No one seemed to care that I was wearing my underwear so I didn't either. We ate eggs and chapatis and made awkward conversation. It was nice to see her, it always is, but it was even better to see her with Pema Zangmo. They kept smiling at each other.