Friendship, mountains and temple

Today made me never want to leave. Rama invited me to her home in Nadi village past Kanyara. I met her and Manju in Kanyara near Punjab National Bank. Ronnie drove us up almost to the village and then we walked to her home. Her family is building a new home and her mother and sister-in-law were hard at work with the builder. They build with stones and wood. Rama and Manju took me into Rama's current home plied me with tea. Her mother and sister-in-law came in with little Ria and Dia 6 and 3 respectively and I saw wedding pictures. Rama fed me lunch that she had cooked especially for me. No one but me, her brother, and Rama ate..... After lunch, as we were walking to the river, Rama asked me why I ate so little at lunch, thinking I didn't enjoy her cooking. The food was delicious and I hope I convinced her that, because I don't work hard, I have a small appetite.
Rama, Manju and I waded in the river, which during monsoon swells to about 50 times its current size, and spashed water into the air and on each other. Ronnie called Rama and suggested we head back to the car where he was waiting. We walked back and Ronnie drove us about 15 minutes up the mountain to Khora where he parked and the girls and I hiked on up to a temple set on the edge of a cliff. The girls believe in their gods with all their hearts and worship daily even if they do not go to temple. Manju starts her day with a prayer to lord Shiva.
They prayed, I payed my respect and we sat looking down into the river, across at the slate mine, and up towards the higher Himalayas where a storm was forming. I truly feel like a dream has come true. I now feel like I have been in the "real" himalayas and even more marvelously have been accepted and befriended by beautiful, intelligent, loving people.