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Published: April 22nd 2006
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The bulletin board at the Yak hotel is a great way to find other independent travellers to share rides with you. I posted 2 messages, and that's how I met Michael, a German engeneer traveling in Tibet for several weeks.
We took a public bus to the Drepung Monastery (2 yuans) to the bottom of the mountain, and instead of taking a tractor ride up for 1Y, we decided to walk, following a monk (lama?), and 3 pilgrims. We huffed and puffed as the thin air doesn't deliver much oxygen in this high altitude.
Entrance fees to monasteries are only charged to tourists (~55yuan). Tibetans enter for free. I wouldn't mind paying if the money went to the monastery or monks, but it goes to the Chinese government. To donate to the monasteries, one must leave money at the chapels, like the pilgrims do (and me too).
Dreprung is a major Gelugpa monastery "with great sense of community" and 4 colleges. There were 10,000 monks living here at the time of the Chinese invation, but now there are ~800. It has a nice kora, meditation caves, many chapels, sculptures, murals. At the atmospheric main assembly hall, we witness hundreds of monks
Up to Dreprunk
Following monk and pilgrims praying.
A highlight of my visit to Dreprung came very unexpectadly. Michael and I were reading my Lonely Planet guide when a young monk approached us. He spoke a few words in English and showed great interest in trying to read. He forgot he was going to get water and stayed there with us, "reading" in English, particularly the pages that had traslation. He pointed to my camera, we took photographs. Somehow, I asked if he lived there, and he signed for us to follow him. How delighted I was to be taken to his dorm. What a nice surprise! An incredibly clean, organized room, with a great view thru the windown, many books, flower pot. He pointed for us to seat, and quickly handed us little cups where he poured yak butter tea. I thought, "Oh God (or should I say Buddha), I'll have to drink this dreadful, milky, buttery, spoiled parmeson tasting tea!! But, I knew this offering is a demonstration of hospitality, and I accepted it. The problem is that after a couple of sips, he'd pour more.... Well, by the second cup I actually started to enjoy it, probably not because of the gustatory sense....
On the way to Dreprung
Monk we followed up the hill I was experiencing an unique moment, and that "tasted" wonderful.
My eyes popped with joy when I spotted a big picture of the 14th Dalai Lama on a wall. That was a huge surprise! Unfortunately the language barrier made it hard for to engage in any prolonged conversation... I can't share all the pictures of our special time at Dreprung for safety reasons.
We were fortunate to be able to enter the chapel/hall when hundreds fo monks were praying. Amazing. When the prayer was finished, was interesting seeing a bunch of monks lifting their robes and peeing, right there on the outside grounds.
PORTUGUES: Cheguei ao enorme Dreprung monasterio/mosteiro de onibus publico, junto a um alemao que conheci. Conheci um jovem monje que terminou por nos convidar ao seu aposento. Super agradavel e tive que tomar o tal do cha de manteiga de yak, que tem um gosto horrivel de queijo parmeson estragado. Mas como eh sinal de boa hospitalidade, aceitei, e no fim ja tava ate gostando.
Outra grande surpresa, foi encontrar um trabalhador com um "scarfe" no pescoco, da bandeira do Brazil. Pirei pra tirar uma foto, eles sem entender nada. Foi emocionante.
Great Hospitality
Outros monks curiosos juntaram-se a nos
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Patricia Somewhere
Patricia MC
Thanks - Obrigada
Twanda and Papai. Thanks for the encouraging comments! OBrigada pelas mensagens enviadas. Eh bom se sentir conectada