Leave a reply

Attention: Volunteering Opportunites

Hello! I am receiving many inquiries into volunteering in Ladakh this year and thank you for writing to us!

At the moment we are busy planning and fundraising for some reading rooms in other areas of the Himalayan region. It looks like we’ll require some talented people with art and language skills September onwards.

So if you are interested, please email avalokitesvaratrust@avalokitesvaratrust.org with the subject: Volunteer 2016 and I shall send you a volunteer form if we are interested in taking it further. It’s difficult to reply to each individual, so please understand that we shall be in touch on a suitability and availability basis.

We also may require volunteers with a design or architectural background. More news on that soon.

Thank you!

P.S. The best and preferred way to be in touch is via email

Leave a reply

LITTLE BUDDHAS IN THE WOODS

Little Buddhas in the woods

Little Buddhas in the woods

On a magical sunny day, in the month of August (2015), we decided to spend a day with the young monks of  the Chemdey Monastery in the village of Sakti. Our friends, artist, Abhishek Singh, musician and drum-jammer Kumi Masunaga and her lovely daughter Aya, came with us to share their talents, their skills and to spread joy! We were also accompanied by my little daughter Samira, my husband, our Ladakhi friends and Sushil, a Mumbai-based photographer who captured some glorious moments!

IMG_0459

Assembling hula hoops

The young monks from Chemdey Gonpa school participated in ice-breaking musical activities that Kumi had designed for them. Abhishek introduced them to a few art activities, took them through the process of creating their group artwork and showed them stunning visuals from his comic book. Aya demonstrated how to ‘hula-hoop’! We also set up a book corner in the school.

The young monks were keen to learn and listened carefully to the process, enjoyed drawing and colouring, asked questions and at the end, proudly exhibited their artwork in the woods!

Kumi is a Japanese percussionist and a drum circle facilitator who lives in Hong Kong with over fifteen years of performing, teaching, and facilitating experience. She has worked with a range of ages and cultural backgrounds, designing, planning and executing programmes. For more- www.drum-jam.com

Aya is natural performer. She sings, dances and has lead her “Circle Game” playshop for groups of children at events. She has acted in youth musicals, theatre play and some TV commercials in Hong Kong. She speaks English, Japanese and basic Cantonese and Mandarin. Here engagement with the children we visited, has been both endearing very valuable!

Abhishek Singh is artist,animation film-maker and graphic novelist who currently lives between his studios in Brooklyn, New York and Mumbai. Whenever possible he retreats for a meditation trek in the Himalayas. For more – www.abhishekartstore.com

Photo courtesy, Sushil, Kumi and Abhigya

In the slideshow you will see- Chemdey Gonpa, the village of Sakti,  the monks at play and at work, receiving their Ladakhi copies of ‘Chuskit Goes to School’ , a group photo and more.

Leave a reply

Avalokitesvara Trust creates reading rooms for children so for International Book Giving Day , we decided to start a book-collection drive. We received an incredible response from all over India. Books were carefully chosen, ordered and shipped to Dharamsala for the young readers of Norling Creche & Kindergarten. We are happy to have enhanced their little library with good quality books. To have played a role in encouraging the joy of reading and bringing smiles to their faces!

We got together to open packages of delightful books and celebrate International Book Giving Day at the Norling creche and kindergarten. A group of 15 volunteers, aged 8 to 10 years were very eager to create a new library upstairs. They happily carried all the old books and categorised them into small, medium and large books. We had a little contest to see which group ( red, green, yellow, blue, white colours of the prayer flags) could count the most books in the least time. It was chao tic and so much fun!! And they finished counting the books in 9 minutes (they’d decided on 15 minutes as the target) After this exercise, they realised that their existing books needed to be categorised into levels and broader subjects. So we created colour codes for levels of reading, for Tibetan, science and for teacher reading material. After four hours of activity we finally displayed all the new additions on to the empty shelves.

The next day, we played a few games. An improvisation of ‘Simon says’, became ‘Norbu says, Sangmo says..’ and the library room was filled with laughter! To calm everyone down, we sat in a circle and concentrated on our breathing. This wasn’t any easy task as a few of them were curious to know what was to follow but we managed to bring back our focus and recollect the activities of the previous session and the task at hand. Setting up a library is no small job and the children once again, tidied up the piles of old books. After all this work, they had a tea break and then finally, chose a book each and sat in a corner or lay on their tummies to immerse themselves in their new book collection. It was very satisfying to see them enjoying the books with quiet rapture. We added a few finishing touches and called it a day by taking a group of books for the little ones downstairs to create a small toddler library. Now that we’re ready, we’ll be inviting ALL the children from ALL the classes to their new reading rooms. We can’t wait!!

Lightning Roulette Live Casino: An Informed Australian Guide

Lightning roulette live casino games combine the familiar European roulette wheel with live dealers, real-time video, and randomly selected boosted numbers. The format has become popular with players who enjoy traditional table games but want the added possibility of enhanced payouts on specific winning numbers.

For Australian audiences, ThePokies is often discussed in connection with live casino access, PayID deposits, withdrawal methods, promotional offers, and a broad selection of online games. The website providing this coverage is an independent informational and promotional review platform, rather than the operator of ThePokies itself.

Payment convenience can influence the overall experience. PayID is especially relevant to Australian users because it can connect a deposit to a bank account using a mobile number, email address, or other registered identifier. Processing times, limits, verification requirements, and availability can still vary by account and transaction method.

The regulatory position requires careful attention. ThePokies is understood to operate offshore and does not have a verified Australian gambling licence, so readers should check current legal information, terms, age requirements, and responsible gambling resources before deciding whether to use any overseas platform.

How The Live Roulette Format Works

Lightning Roulette uses a European-style wheel with numbers from 0 to 36. A live dealer spins the wheel while a video stream shows the table and game activity. Players normally place bets on red or black, odd or even, individual numbers, dozens, columns, and other standard roulette options before betting closes.

The defining feature is the selection of several “Lightning Numbers” for each round. When one of those numbers wins, a qualifying straight-up bet may receive a boosted payout. The multiplier is determined for that round and can vary considerably. A lightning result does not turn every bet into a high-value win, and the selected number must match the player’s relevant wager.

This design creates a faster, more eventful version of roulette, but it does not remove the house edge. The random multiplier can make a winning round appear especially significant, while losing spins remain part of the game. Players should treat the advertised maximum multiplier as a possibility rather than an expected return.

ThePokies, PayID, And Account Payments

ThePokies reviews aimed at Australian readers commonly focus on PayID as a practical deposit route. In a typical process, the user selects PayID at the cashier, receives the relevant payment details, and completes the transfer through a participating banking application. The account name and transfer instructions should be checked carefully before funds are sent.

The review coverage at pokiesnet-au-pay1d.com discusses reported bonuses, deposits, withdrawals, available banking methods, processing times, and game selection. These details can help readers compare the platform’s stated features, although promotions and payment conditions may change without notice.

A deposit being quick does not guarantee an equally quick withdrawal. Cash-out requests may involve identity checks, account review, minimum withdrawal amounts, wagering conditions, or limits attached to a bonus. PayID availability may also differ between deposits and withdrawals. Reading the cashier rules and bonus terms before committing funds is more useful than relying on a headline processing time.

Users should also protect banking information and avoid sending money through an unofficial contact or an altered payment instruction. If a transaction appears inconsistent with the platform’s published process, pausing the payment and checking the account support channel is the safer approach.

Bonuses, Game Choice, And Play Conditions

Promotional coverage of ThePokies may mention welcome offers, reload bonuses, cashback arrangements, or other incentives. The headline value is only one part of the offer. Wagering requirements, eligible games, expiry periods, maximum bet rules, excluded payment methods, and withdrawal caps can significantly change its practical value.

Lightning roulette may sit alongside slots, table games, blackjack, baccarat, poker variants, and other live dealer titles. A large catalogue can be convenient, but choice should not be mistaken for better odds. Each game has its own rules, volatility, return structure, and limits, while live casino tables may have different minimum stakes during busy periods.

For roulette specifically, players should understand whether a bonus applies to live games and whether bets on special features qualify toward wagering. Some promotions exclude live casino play entirely. A clear record of deposits, bets, wins, and withdrawals can help prevent confusion when an account balance includes both cash and promotional funds.

The live presentation can also encourage rapid decisions. Setting a spending limit before opening the game, using time reminders, and avoiding attempts to recover losses are basic safeguards. Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, with money allocated only after essential costs have been covered.

Legal And Safety Considerations For Australians

Australian gambling regulation is state and territory based, while online casino services are also affected by federal restrictions. An offshore website may accept Australian customers without holding a licence issued for the Australian market. The absence of a verified Australian gambling licence can affect available protections, dispute options, advertising oversight, and the handling of complaints.

That distinction matters when reviewing ThePokies. Promotional descriptions of payment speed, bonuses, or game variety should not be read as a guarantee of uninterrupted service or legal protection. Regulatory bodies may investigate or take action against offshore gambling services, and access, payment channels, or account availability can change.

Players should confirm that they are at least 18, review the operator’s current terms, and consider whether the platform provides credible identity, privacy, and responsible gambling information. They should also be wary of cloned websites, unsolicited bonus messages, pressure to deposit more money, and requests to bypass ordinary verification.

A balanced view of leisure includes activities that carry no financial risk. The Avalokiteśvara Trust’s account of a first reading-room loan illustrates how access to books can create meaningful experiences for children and young monks in Himalayan communities. That kind of educational engagement offers a useful contrast to casino entertainment, where enjoyment should remain limited, deliberate, and affordable.

Comparing Key Features Before Playing

A simple comparison can help separate game mechanics from platform conditions. The live roulette format concerns how the game operates, while payment and regulatory issues concern the website offering access to it. They should be assessed independently.

Area What to check Why it matters
Roulette format European wheel, live dealer, lightning-number rules Explains how bets and boosted payouts work
Multipliers Selection method, range, and qualifying wagers Prevents assumptions that every bet receives an enhancement
PayID Deposit availability, account details, limits, and verification Helps reduce payment errors and delays
Withdrawals Processing time, minimum amount, fees, and identity checks Shows when a balance can realistically be received
Bonuses Wagering, expiry, eligible games, and maximum bet terms Determines the actual value of an offer
Licensing Australian licence status and offshore registration Indicates which protections and complaint channels may apply
Responsible play Deposit limits, time controls, self-exclusion, and support Helps keep gambling within a controlled entertainment budget

Lightning roulette can be appealing because it preserves a recognisable casino game while adding live interaction and occasional payout multipliers. ThePokies coverage may be useful for comparing its reported PayID options, promotions, withdrawals, and catalogue, but those claims should be checked against current terms.

The key point to remember is that convenience and excitement do not replace due diligence: understand the roulette rules, verify payment conditions, recognise the absence of a confirmed Australian licence, and gamble only within limits that do not affect everyday responsibilities.