I'd like to note that for the record I stated specifically that I would be traveling to shimla and from there, Dolanji. Meanwhile, neither pam nor Manu raised any questions about the fact that Dolanji is apparently 23 km south of Solan, which is 3 hrs to the south of Shimla. So after taking a train all the way to Shimla, getting a blank stare upon inquiring about Dolanji, I called Manu and finally got that answer, so I got on the last train headed back and got off at Solan for a total of 17 hours traveling, 6 of which were unnecessary. Now I have to try to find how to get to Dolanji with no further help from the academic directors, nor their singularly unhelpful travel agents in Delhi.

So I've arrived in Dolanji by a tuk tuk from Solan. Once I arrived a western woman directed me towards the guesthouse run by the Bon monastery. The monk in charge is Dhondup and is definitely Bon because of the blue on his robes as opposed to yellow. I inquired about speaking with any teachers that have taught in the west, and he said they have one in particular, but that he is away right now. So I am hoping I can talk to others and perhaps get their perspectives on it, or perhaps their perspectives on westerners that come here: what they're like, what they are interested in, how interested they are in the area/seriousness of intent if they are learning more about Bon. Also just the basics, how many Bon lamas teach in the west, how many westerners come here to be taught, and their reasons for it.

First I need to find a translator though, Dhondup is one possibility.