We arrived at the Tibetan settlements without the correct passes, which are just about impossible to get. We decided to go to the police station to see if we could talk our way in. I learned very quickly not to argue with an Indian seargent who was quite rude and kicked us out. We hid at a safe house (Geshela's dad's house) while deciding what to do. Pics above are of Geshela's dad and nephews.
The teachings were the next day. The seargent had explained that if he caught us he would prosecute us. The signs up at the moasteries said 5 years jail if caught. Anyway we decided to risk it. The next day on the way to teachings we got caught and kicked out again. According to the rumours around camp we were arrested handcuffed and thrown in the back of the police van ... but I don't remember that actually happening!!!
Like Lleyton Hewitt, two sets down with the home crowd behind him, we didn't give up. We waited 'til sun down and organised a local Indian to drive us back into the Tibetan settlement.
When we arrived back at the safe house Geshela met us and said good news - he had the papers we needed. When asked how he got them he responded with his newly acquired and now favourite English saying, "Money Talks!" He had managed to get some high officials in Delhi to process our papers and with quite a few thousand rupi bribe we got the 3 month processing time reduced to a few hours. Above is Ven. Theresa, Geshe Wangchen (both from New Zealand), Geshe Samten and Allie out the front Dzongsar Choedak Monastery where HH Dalai Lama gave teachings.
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