In Almora Jungles with Tapasvi Babaji in 2001
Following our stay in Allahabad (read about the sacred aspects of Allahabad and why it's the center for the Kumbha Melas) for the Maha Kumbha Mela 2001, Dale and I traveled with Tapasvi Baba and his entourage of swamis through the Himalayas and finally to his ashram in the Himalayan jungles of Almora.

Tapasvi Baba at
Maha Kumbha
Mela 2001

Tapasvi Baba's
ashram in the
jungles of Almora

Kirtan with Tapasvi Baba and devotees by the evening fire in ashram

Dale and I at Almora ashram

Nightly kirtan in
the ashram

With Tapasvi Baba
at his Almora ashram

Dale and Shylendraji
with ashram dog

Click here to see photo of Tapasvi Baba in his youth

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Mount Kailash Pilgrimage, 2000
Our trip to and parikrama (circumambulation) of Mount Kailash was the most physically challenging journey that we've ever taken. Six days out in a jeep, three days of parikrama, and six days back by jeep... through a terrain that was barren, cold and dry. The thick heavy dust from the roads would pile up inside the back of our jeep window, and you had to force yourself to keep drinking the water to prevent dehydration and mountain sickness from setting in. What an experience! Definitely the roughest trip we've EVER taken. I remember laying in the tent the first night, out in the middle of nowhere, barely able to breathe and not sleeping a wink because of the lack of oxygen. So tired but unable to sleep! I now understood the suffering of insomnia. I did japa, and even
counted sheep (really!) in desperation, and wondered if I might not make it to morning... And the blessings of crossing over the 18,700 Droma pass on the second day-- that was the incredible moment that took my fatigue away. It felt as though we were passing through an invisible forest, though there were no trees. And just as we crossed over, a huge dark cloud came over the peak (just above us!) and dropped small hail pellets on us. Something happened on that moment and there was such a presence around us--
we all felt it. The blessings of the great masters had come at last!

Our trip to Mount Kailash

Dale and I as
we circle Mount
Kailash

Forever and forever...
miles of mountain
and sky...

Mount Kailash

The mountain path we walked...