Mantras & misdemeanours - Vanessa Walker

Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, McLeod Ganj is a place of quiet beauty and surprising contradiction, where monks wear the latest Nike trainers, the government consults an ancient oracle for important matters, and locals wholeheartedly believe in miracles. In this travel memoir, Vanessa Walker recounts her life in McLeod Ganj after she leaves her job as a journalist in search of spiritual renewal. While there, Walker unexpectedly falls in love with a disrobed Tibetan monk seeking refuge from Chinese and Nepalese authorities. Through her personal and romantic journey, Walker recounts the complexities of a nation rich with tradition and culture but terrorized by Chinese control.