After a 48 hour trek, complete with three flights, three airports, surreal layover’s, and a 4-hour jeep ride along windy, pock-marked roads, I have connected with Ricco in the Northern-most Indian city of Gangtok. Gangtok, the capitol of Skiim, is touted as the "Ultimate Eco-tourism destination of India,” and home to roughly five hundred thousand bustling, and alive people: peaceable, and happy is my first, and strongest impression of these folks, nestled in the shadows of the awesome Himalayas.

Today we visited the Institute of Tibetology, a magnificent museum dedicated to housing priceless artifacts from the Tibetan culture: Human Skulls made into Tantric drums, Tangka paintings, and embroideries so intricate and elaborate, it begs the question: what transmission of The Sacred is imprinting on to my soul, through the lens of my eyes as I one-pointedly focus on their confounding imagry? As we walk the streets one cannot help but take notice, from rooftops to street corners, the Tibetan prayer flags cut through any site-line, evoking for me the only reference point I have; that of the colorful streamers raining-down on the streets of Manhattan, New York during a New Years day parade. Yet, distinct my from reference, these colorful streamers here in Northern India, are faded, tattered and wind-blown, indicating a more purposefulness to their streaming. Their beauty is not separate from the spectacle of beauty that is the landscape, offering a visual dharma that speaks of intentionality infused into life here. Not yet acclimated to the 12-hour time difference, with sleep interrupted by strange new sounds, and the familiar barking dogs which area clearly karmic, and very real. Who was I kidding; these dogs would not follow me were ever I go?

Ricco, and I spent the day with two permaculture students who generously shared their land, and homes with us. A feast of five striking flavors of food was generously offered us; the best meal I’ve had had since leaving home! "Uncle," as he was referred to, a retired man, was our host, his heart palpable in its delight over Ricco’s presence, and in our visit. We visited his urban garden, located on the outskirts of the city on a high terrace. Excited about applying permaculture to his urban garden, and his next project; to build a small hydropower device to power his home! Next, a taxi ride delivered us to a remote hillside area of Gangtok, where a family awaited our arrival, dressed in what appeared to be their “Sunday Best.” We toured their farm, which included a brilliant variety of beans, corn, pumpkin and ginger. Delighted to share with us their most recent addition; two worm bins for the inclusion of the rich worm castings into their garden, something Ricco taught them in his Permaculture class. The display of gratitude toward Ricco for his making this long trip, year after year, to work with them, was like that of “Uncle’s,” palpable in their mood, and the generous offerings: sweet chai with donuts. As we set to leave, a brother invited us to sit on his patio, and enjoy some yogurt: At this point, I was reeling from the pungent tastes, and smells, and felt certain were I to drink the yogurt I would regret it. Not wanting to be inhospitable, I looked to Ricco for wordless instruction, and noticed in him a hesitation to drink, yet without missing a beat, his characteristic humility, and refusal to indulge “personal preference,” took over, and he accepted, as did I, the much-needed “bio flora.”

This place is indeed Shangri-La, yet even here, in this place know for its pristine, and breathtaking beauty, trash is scattered across hillsides in heaps of inorganic debris. A compelling juxtaposition to be sure! An elderly man said that15 years ago there were no plastics, what trash there was, was organic, composting naturaly back into the earth. Now, packaged waste remains, with tits half-life too long to calculate, leaving behind its trademark of pollution even here. It is incumbent on the manufactures of goods to no longer ignore their waste, and this sight, and set themselves to the task of consciously creating goods with less packaging, while voluntarily choosing to internalize their waste, and not expect the consumer to “deal with it.” It is encouraging to see these grassroots eco-oriented NGO’s working throughout this remote region, and the sustainability science fair here, where young kids were so excited about creating solutions for pollution, water, and organic gardening! Off to Darjeeling for more discoveries in the eco-zone!