So we started in Lhasa, where we spent 3 days acclimatizing. Being a rather un-outdoorsy person, this is the highest I've ever been (thus far) for an extended period at least. And I'm glad to report that I was fine. No AMS. Woo hoo!
Lhasa looked like any Chinese city to me. Except for the enhanced security. There were guards and security posts everywhere.Easily the grandest structure in Lhasa (& an architectural marvel in the world), the immense 13-storey high Potala Palace in its current form was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1645 (the Red and White Palaces were added subsequently). It had been the residence of Dalai Lamas till the 14th century. Today, it is the site for state ceremonies and school for religious education. The palace also contains tombs of numerous Dalai Lamas and is the pilgrimage destination for many believers.
Yak butter candles instead of incense.
Pilgrims doing the kora (pilgrimage route). It's not obvious from the photo, but the pathway was thick with pilgrims.
The other well-known monastery that we visited is Drepung. Unfortunately, the place was under construction, so there was nothing picture-worthy. This is the entrance of the main hall. Aren't the colors brilliant? The interior was too dark for decent photos...well for a simple camera and its unsophisticated user.
The view from the top. The monastery was built on hill.
Mani stones and other offerings are all over the pilgrim route. The more prayer flags (& offerings) there are, the holier is the site.
That's a yak. The yak is very much part of the Tibetan lifestyle. Well, there's probably little choice given the high altitude and harsh climate. It provides milk, butter, meat, leather, yak hair etc. so one encounters yak-something everywhere. Yak horns are used as offerings too.
1 comment:
reminds me of a short story i read in the past. see "stick out your tongue", Ma Jian.
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