09.06.09
Lhasa (I)
Hotel is near Muslim Mosque. I had probably passed by this gate many times, but my eyes were always busy on the food I hardly ever noticed it. This was a pic from Mira’s camera.
It was our regular route to roam from Muslim Mosque to Barkhor Street. There were so much going on in Muslim square.
Being a person with a problem of ADD, I was playing with this hat, completely forgotten the reason we were in this store was to buy some drinking water.
Very busy Barkhor street
Both sides of this streets are full of booths and stores selling Tibetan handicrafts and jewelry. We knew we were gonna spend some quality time here. On this first afternoon, we were just getting ourselves accquainted.
Barkhor Street is always crowded. Local people religiously walk around Jokhang Temple everyday to pay respect. I was amazed by the number of local people there that didn’t seem to be interested in buying anything.
For people who are into religion, esp.budhism, this would be a whole different level of exploration. For me, I walked and watched, hardly could absorbed all that I saw, let alone having time to meditate. Religion is a good thing for individual–it gives you faith.One doesn’t give up easily with faith. Me,sadly, always had too much doubt to commit…
Pretty late in the evening, (8++pm) many people were still proning and praying. What looked to me like a big effort seemed nothing to them. It’s amazing things people can do with faith, sometimes beyond physical boundary.
Day and night, it doesn’t matter.
Pilgrim outside of Potala palace
To visit Potala Palace, you have to make reservation for the ticket the day before, with the reservation, you are then entitled to buy the ticket on the next day, and get to visit Potala for a time as restricted as an hour.Since Panchen Lama is living there, 1 hour for a certain amount of people is pretty generous.
I had always thought Potala is somewhere in the suburb of Lhasa. To my surprise it is by the side of a main road. For a city as small as Lhasa, we passed it right by almost whenever we took a taxi.
No angle is right angle. In this entire trip none of us came out with a decent picture that does it justified.
I just wished she didn’t do that finger thing…
Potala Square is a sacred land. One is not allowed to sit, crouch or even put anything down on the ground.
No pictures are allowed inside the Palace.
Walking down from the inside. Bad bad weather.
Potala is the highest building in Lhasa. This was the city seen from the Palace.
That morning, while waiting for the line to open for booking “reservation”, we walked around the neighborhood…
Turning praying wheels
Gate to Potala Palace
Waiting to book “reservation”
I found this camaflage uniform very intriguing. It’s such a rebel to its original concept.
Outside of our room looking like an Indian (feather)
Trying on a hat
In this store called “Tibetan Antelope” we spent a lot on jewelry.
street scene
Accidentally found this love poem by Tsangyang Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama.
“A Moment Gone
by Tsangyang Gyatso
A moment gone, hoisting the wind-horse banners—
but not to beg good fortune . . . only to welcome your return.
A day gone, raising the sacred boulder pile—
but not to accumulate virtue . . . only to cast a stone in your heart’s pool.
A month gone, setting all the prayer wheels turning—
but not to achieve transcendance . . . only to brush your finger tips.
A year gone, prone in the dust of the mountain road—
but not to make obeisance . . . only to press into your warmth.
A lifetime gone . . . turning and turning, mountains, rivers, stupas—
but not to seek rebirth . . . only to meet you along the way.”
Ah it’s beautiful. I am actually touched. Not everybody could write something like this. I know I definitely can’t.