Day 2 began with a tour around Gyantse. It is one of the least chinese influenced towns in Tibet and it thankfully, still retains its Tibetan charm. We walked the streets past the old fort on the hill (in the background) and down to Palchoi Monastery, checking out the local street life. The chorten (big stupa-thing in the foreground) was huge in Palchoi and we were able to climb up the floors to the viewing platform near the top (Michelle, Amy and Alan pictured here on top). Cameras are not allowed inside, so I went to the neighbouring hill to take in these views back to town. A couple of cameras were snuck in, but the Nazi monk busted Alan with his up top, while Michelle found some sneakier tactics of escaping him.
Unfortunately, we didn't have time to climb up to the fort/castle as our driver was ready to leave. But it was a short day of driving today, only a 2 hours to Shigatse on which we entertained ourselves with a little game of "I Spy"!! (not very creative , I know!)
Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet, has the very famous TashiLumphu monastery, home of the Panchen Lama. Panchen Lama is a title like Vice-President or Prime Minister that Tibetans give to the second greatest leader of Tibet. Panchen means "Great Scholar" and Lama is a word Tibetans use for a religious teacher. We were disappointed that we only had a short time at this monastery because it had an excellent vibe to it as we got caught amongst the flow of pilgrims when the doors opened. The pilgrims with their wrinkly old faces from decades of exposure to the elements, and dangling pigtails, wearing blackened sheepskin coats were excellent. We followed them on their circuitous route around the temples and dark shrines as they spun their prayer wheels or rubbed their prayer beads, yak butter candles and money donations at the ready to adorn each and every shrine. *Stub and Mush
No comments:
Post a Comment