Yet again due altitude related knackerdness (Tibetan word for sickness) this will be mostly pictures with references in blue.
We met up with our guide at the civilised hour of 09:00 and headed out to Norbulingka, meaning Treasure Park, the traditional summer home of the Dalai Lama.
That Random Couple Again Sitting at the Gateway
OK, no one was brave enough to provide an answer to a similar question a few days ago, these two lions are more colour than the previous ones, which is male, which is female and why. Surely someone can at least hazard a guess?
View from Street
In most of today’s picture the scenes will be outside ones only, as cameras are not allowed inside.
Next we headed off to lunch, originally it was meant to be at a small family home type place, but for some reason it was closed (today was a minor religious holiday here so that may have been why). It was a little unfortunate as the place looked “interesting”.
We finished up at a more commercial place that served authentic Tibetan fare where we had our first taste of Yak meat, and pretty good it was too.
After this we walked to the Jokhang Temple the holiest place for Buddhism in Tibet.
Below are some vies of the general area approaching the Temple.
Offerings to the Gods
Incense (burning juniper branches) to clear the air of evil.
Tibetans will attempt to make a pilgrimage to the temple at least once. Some will come bu car or public transport, some will walk for up to a year and others will travel on hands and knees according to their devoutness.
Next some pictures from within the temple grounds
Pilgrims at Prayer at the Temple Entrance
Views of the Temple.
Inside photos not allowed.
As part of the pilgrimage people complete three different circuits, the first is a circuit within the temple, the second or Bark Hor is a 1km circuit of the temple and the third is a circuit of Lhasa. we did the first two, views below.
There Just Happened to be a Fabric Store on the Circuit!
Two Monks
View of Potala Palace (More tomorrow)
Pilgrim – Device in her hand is a Prayer Wheel which is swung to rotate the cylinder clockwise
Next stop was the Tibet Museum, again no inside photos.
Cutting Leather for Boot Heels
Mini Boot Trinkets
Sewing Soles to Boot Bases
Embroidery fro Boot Decorating
Making Books from their own Paper.
Lastly was a trip we had requested outside of the tour itinerary. A friend of ours had been a volunteer in Tibet many moons ago, and one of the things the group did was to build a soccer pitch at an orphanage. He still keeps in contact with the director, so we decided to visit her. The orphanage provides a home for 114 orphans from all over Tibet and puts them through school and college and will continue to house them until the find a job. If they can’t find a job, they can sty at the orphanage and be taught handicrafts to make items that can be sold to raise funds. Primarily they make paper and books as well as Tibetan boots.
Our visit had an added benefit, our tour guide was impressed with the work being done at the orphanage and is going to try and get his tour group to add it as a destination. He is also going to fund raise from his friends and associates!!
For some reason a couple of the photos would not load properly.
3 Responses to Lots of Walking…. Little Oxygen