LHASA
Tenzin our Tibetan guide is approx 26 years old, has a girlfriend and is saving up enough money to marry her. He does guide work for Intrepid as well as help out on his family Yak farm miles away from Lhasa.
He took us to Potala Palace which was an experience - the local people come for miles around with their tubs of yak butter that they spoon into a reciptical with candles in it, then they throw themselves down on the ground in reverence to the Budda or Lhama they are worshipping. They come with wads notes (each approx 50cents AUD ) that they stuff into crevices around the palace and temples for use by the monks.
Because we were aclimatising to the altitude we were out of breath with every 5 steps we climbed and there were heaps of steps to the top. The view from the top was breathtaking over to the snow capped mountains and the entire Lhasa township.
The Tibetan people are friendly, happy and eager to speak english and all children say 'hello' to foreigners. Marg and I have fallen in love with the children who are strapped to the backs of their mothers and wrapped up with fur lined capes.
We went to the Jokur temple this morning to see the townsfolk worshipping - they throw themselves postrate on the cold stones for hours at a time. Monks walk amongst the crowd in their maroon robes - we witnessed the monks debating at the Sera Monestry yesterday which was an incredible sight - they stamp on the ground slapping their hands together and it appears that they are abusing the Monk sitting in front of them. If only we could understand what they were saying.
We have a free day tomorrow so will try to find the blind masseuse who we are told does a really good massage.
He took us to Potala Palace which was an experience - the local people come for miles around with their tubs of yak butter that they spoon into a reciptical with candles in it, then they throw themselves down on the ground in reverence to the Budda or Lhama they are worshipping. They come with wads notes (each approx 50cents AUD ) that they stuff into crevices around the palace and temples for use by the monks.
Because we were aclimatising to the altitude we were out of breath with every 5 steps we climbed and there were heaps of steps to the top. The view from the top was breathtaking over to the snow capped mountains and the entire Lhasa township.
The Tibetan people are friendly, happy and eager to speak english and all children say 'hello' to foreigners. Marg and I have fallen in love with the children who are strapped to the backs of their mothers and wrapped up with fur lined capes.
We went to the Jokur temple this morning to see the townsfolk worshipping - they throw themselves postrate on the cold stones for hours at a time. Monks walk amongst the crowd in their maroon robes - we witnessed the monks debating at the Sera Monestry yesterday which was an incredible sight - they stamp on the ground slapping their hands together and it appears that they are abusing the Monk sitting in front of them. If only we could understand what they were saying.
We have a free day tomorrow so will try to find the blind masseuse who we are told does a really good massage.
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