Tea Shops, Sweet Shops and Meat Shops

5x7 watercolor on paper — Himalaya Tea Shop — Buy It

High above Dharmashala where the Dali Lama lives, we sat relaxed, waiting for the heavy afternoon rains to stop before walking back to our guest house, Jagatram Niwas. Our guest house lies clinging to the mountainside in the teeny tiny village of Heini. The Himalaya Tea Shop lies at the last stop before the sketchiest road I have ever been on. The dirt road was actually made by hand by the local villagers after they grew tired of waiting years for the government. On our first stay with the most lovely family, we drove in a mini van traveling down this “road” — more of a path really — all of us would scooch to the mountain side of the van, hoping that our weight would keep our tires from slipping off the road. We’ve since returned many times to this same guest house, and the same wonderful family, but now we take care to send our bags ahead in a small car as we walk up the thousand or so steps.

5x7 watercolor on paper — Tara Sweet Shop — Buy It

Indian sweets and a good cup of cha hit the spot anytime. My personal favorite is warm Gulab Jamun. As a service I decided it would be really helpful to know just who has the best. I’ve made it my personal mission to always test warm Gulab Jamun, whenever they are available. Occasionally testing is done more than once a day. Tara Sweet Shop, I may need to go back to re-test.

5x7 watercolor on paper — Popular’s Meat Shop — Buy It

Popular’s Meat Shop is another roadside shop in Jalandhar. On our daily route from the village into town. The vegetarians in my household are not crazy about my love of this place! It’s really the signage I love. The rooster and goat are very well done.