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Published: October 11th 2006
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Barkhor
Pilgrims in the Barkhor area Monks, momos (meat or vegetable filled dumplings) and monasteries are just some of the things that characterize Tibet, along with the daily hundreds of pilgrims at the Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace in Lhasa.
Every morning Tibetan pilgrims, most dressed in traditional outfits, walk clockwise around the Jokhang and Potala saying prayers while holding a prayer wheel in one hand and prayer beads in another. Rain or shine the devoted walk the pilgrim circuit. Some face the Temple or Palace and pray while doing a sort of ‘sun salutation’, a set of yoga postures, where a pilgrim starts upright with arms stretched up and hands pressed together, hands are then brought chest level still in prayer position, then the pilgrim kneels and slides the body towards the temple/palace ending up lying on the stomach with face down to the ground. Some repeat these postures as they circle the temple/palace.
Other than the pilgrims that populate the Barkhor area surrounding the Jokhang Temple, are the vendors selling souvenirs from prayer wheels and colorful prayer flags to t-shirts, incense and jewelry. Tourists sometimes join in the prayer and pilgrimage around the temple and other holy sites as well. I took the
opportunity to do as the pilgrims and circled the Jokhang and the Potala palaces. It was quite an amazing feeling being part of the swirling mass of people. I definitely felt like I was really experiencing Tibet.
Just outside Lhasa, Drepung Monastery surrounded by mountains, was one of my favorite places. While wandering the grounds of the monastery a bit lost and in a hurry to get out of the compound by closing time, I was invited by an old monk to pray and walk with him around a stupa (a reliquary). Wow! How often does one get invited by a sweet little old monk to participate in such a sacred activity? Needless to say, that was one moment I won’t soon forget.
Sera was another mountain enveloped monastery I visited just outside Lhasa. This is where I had the opportunity to watch dozens of monks debate under trees in a courtyard. What an amazing site to see so many, from the very youn to older ones, debating with so much passion. Though I didn't understand a word of what they were saying, I could sense their passion by the tone of their voices and their facial expressions.
Debating monks
Debating monks at Sera Monastery The garden was packed with dozens of tourists like myself clicking away at their cameras.
I have to say one of the things I found odd in Tibet was seeing monks using cell phones. Despite its wide availability, it just never really crossed my mind that I would see so many of them using cell phones. Another odd site was seeing the European chain store Etam in downtown Lhasa! We don’t even have Etam in Montreal, and there’s one in Lhasa? How did that happen?
Other than those oddities, I loved Tibet for the really sweet, warm and friendly Tibetans I met from Lhasa to the small surrounding towns. Even though I couldn’t speak a word of their language, all I had to do was smile and was guaranteed a smile right back. And though I was alone and really far away from home, surrounded by a people so different culturally and whose language I didn’t understand, I never felt threatened or fearful. I would have to say that Tibetans are one of the nicest, warmest and most welcoming I have met so far throughout my travels.
I also loved Tibet for the beautiful sceneries and the
Hair ornaments
Traditional hair ornaments using turquoise. fact that Tibetans have managed to stay close to their traditions even though tourists flood the country year after year. Seeing the locals dressed in their traditional clothing as they went about their day, was one of the things I enjoyed most and which gave me the opportunity to experience a bit of what Tibet is about.
After Tibet, I went back to Chengdu and visited the Panda Research and Breeding Centre. I loved seeing all the pandas. They're all cute and adorable looking whether their babies or adults. I even had the chance to see red pandas, which I never even knew existed! The red panda is much smaller than a black and white panda and more like a big raccoon with red fur.
My last meal in China unfortunately was not as memorable as my first one. I had a lot of trouble trying to order food since menus were not translated in English. I couldn't believe it, all that good Szechuan food within my reach and I couldn't even get at it! I definitely have to learn at least a bit of the language before planning another trip to China ... at least enough to
Red panda
Red panda at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. be able to order some great food so I don't starve!
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