Page 14______________The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES_______________ May 18, 2017 ARTS & LIFESTYLES Wilbraham woman details life lessons through travels By Tyler S. Witkop Staff Writer Always fascinated with the Buddhist traditions of the Himalayas, Ellie Dias set out to explore the
A baby elephant, polite underwear, and a Thai t-shirt all in one night!
CHAPTER 7… excerpt! When people plan trips, their course is usually more or less on target. Not mine. Despite being a manic perfectionist, and one of the best planners in the world, my travel adventure—my thirty-year dream—was more than a
Saved by a business card!
Who does an illegal U-turn without checking to see if a cruiser is directly behind you? ME! Within seconds of the turn, the flashing lights go on and the siren blasts. Sitting in the car with my head down, I begin
Packing for the Himalayas
“Be Prepared” ~ Boy Scout motto When I received the three separate ten-page documents about what to expect and what to bring on my adventure in Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet, I had my work cut out for me. I approached
“The long awaited elephant ride.”
“In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight” ~ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by Linda Solomon At last, the long-awaited Elephant Safari Ride, where I will see lions, and tigers, and what, oh my! I have a dramatic vision
“The People of Bhutan—Rituals and Reverence”
With Dawa driving, we leave Paro and head to Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. We come to a pine-covered hillside bisected by a cluster of white prayer flags on huge vertical bamboo poles being erected by dozens of locals. Someone
“Squatter Anxiety”
Pit Toilets As we near the car, my GI tract starts making some unpleasant announcements. I need to find a bathroom, and soon. My guide, Yeshey, points to a cement wall a short distance up a grass hill. I bite
The Loss of a Pet
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened” ▬Anatole France What is it about our pets that makes us love them so fiercely? Why do they leave us with a hole in our hearts and
The Awakened Mind
“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.” ~Buddha It’s doubtful anyone would question the desire to be less stressed in an age of distractions do to a hectic life of cell phones, text messages, computers, and