Lhasa
Friday, November 17th, 2006Tashi Delek!
So what to do in Lhasa?
Visit Monastaries, walk in the hills and of course hang out with the Tibetan people, most of whom come from the country to make pilgramageto the holy sites around Lhasa, what a fascinating people they are, with the beautiful ornate clothing, babies strapped on backs and cheeks red from living so close to the sun. An amazing site to see. Hundreds of pilgrims making the kora around the Jokhang, the Potala, really any holy place that requires a circumambulation. Thumbing prayer beads, spinning mani wheels and mumbling om mani padme hum.
The faces that show a lifetime of determination and toil, but ever resilient and strong.
And once inside the Monastary,
the smell of butter lamps and sage, the light that filters through the windows illuminating the smoke. Crude arrows pointng you throuh the labrynith of chaples hundreds of golden buddhas and lamas are honored here, ancient scriptires, dusty behind glass, probably thousands of years old.. everything taken care of so lovingly.
the pilgrimas add butter to the lamps, bow their heads in reverance to the buddha, or tara, or lama.. and also place small notes of money close to the altar.
still thumbing prayer beads, moving steadilyl down the 108 beaded strand.
om mani padme hum
brass prayer wheels catch the sunlight as they spin around.
after yak momos and yak milk tea(tibets answer to chai)
(this should be in search of chai, I sure drink it like mad)
we do the kora around the monastary, with a woman so ancient and sweet, she leads the way weaving us through the rock carvings and prayer flags strewn miles across the valley, the contrast of the yellow, blue and red, makes quite a contrast againt the early winter brown of the surrounding mountains.
just another day on top of the world…
jessica