miscellaneous rambling

As I said, it's been raining alot in Taiwan this year... This shot was taken in Taipei county at the zhu ming museum early in the spring.

I had wanted to go for awhile. it takes some effort to get there, and despite the heavy rain that weekend, some friends and i made it.

The place is huge. It has several buildings, a huge park, amitheater etc.. ( he's very famous)

Because there were no people around due to the rain, I jumped over the fence and posed for this photo with the statues. It's raining again here. so I felt like posting this.

The next day after arriving in Lhasa, some of us got up at 5am and we snuck out of the hotel to go to the Jokhang temple. It was a 15 minute walk through the dark, and we had to unbolt the main gates of the hotel ( and accidentally waking up the guard). There we found many pilgrims who had been praying all night. There were a few people circling the temple in the dark, praying. We did the same. After 3 rounds, most of us separated due to walking different speeds. The sun was coming up at about 7am, and slowly the city was beginning to come alive.

The feeling there at first light is of course, different from during the day, when it is full of tourists. It’s much more serene, and I could feel the energy from the temple itself.

After meeting the group back at the hotel for breakfast, we set out to see the Summer Palace, then the museum. After lunch, the one sight we all couldn’t wait to see was the Potala Palace.

They only allow 1000 people/day there, and you must buy tickets in advance. It costs 1 RMB for a local, and 100 RMB for tourists! The Potala was super huge, and impressive. It contained the remains of several of the past Dalai Lamas as well as of course, many artefacts, and personal items of the Dalai Lama before he left Tibet.

Like many palaces I”ve seen in Europe, it is ornate. Every piece of wood, brick, stone, is painted, carved, or decorated somehow. Sometimes very plainly, but done in tasteful Tibetan style. It was amazing.

In the afternoon, Ms. Zhu and I went of to the bank to exchange money for the group for our upcoming trips. It was going to be difficult to find banks where we were going. There were some problems with the tour guides, and out group had to, against their will, go to a herbal factory ( ie. Shopping point).

The bank, took us an hour to exchange various currencies. There was one impatient American in line, behind Ms. Zhu ( we split up into two lines). He kept asking her ( in English ) if she was finished, and got more upset. Of course, she didn’t speak English. People were starting to look, so I thought I’d give them something to look at.. I yelled out at the man “ LOOK BUDDY! IF SHE WAS FINISHED! SHE’D BE OUT OF THE LINE RIGHT?! SO JUST BE QUIET, AND WAIT FOR YOUR TURN!!”

Everyone at the bank was quiet, and I was a little worried the security guard was going to come by, but nothing happened. We got our money, and then then the next nervewracking part, was going out to the streets carrying about $10 000 USD CASH all in large Chinese RMB notes. It was the size of about 2.5 bricks!!!

The next day is part 2 of the Nam-Tso lake story. We didn’t make it the first time, so the group tried again. Mr. Ren and I did not want to go, so we spent the day hanging out and going shopping for tangka paintings.

We had a relaxing day, but the others worked hard for their photos that day.

They woke up at 4am, and set out right away for the lake. Drove 2 hours there, to get into the area before the construction would begin at 8am. Then they continued another hour up the mountain to the lake. The lake was beautiful or course! They stayed at the lake for maybe 2 hours, then they drove back. But of course, the road was then blocked, and the bus could not get through. So they waited on the bus, from 11am to 6pm!!! SEVEN hours until they could drive down. Then he got back to Lhasa around 9-10pm… To me, although I wanted to see the lake, it was not worth a 17 hour day to do it.

The second part of our journey continues to Shigatse, Sakya, and Gyantse. There we visited some important temples. The site of power of the Panchen Lama, the murals of pelkor Chode monastery an the grand assembly hall of the Sakya monastery. Sakya was memorable because our bus broke down twice, and it took us TWO days to get there. During those times though, I got some good photos. At this time, the group was getting to know each other better. We were used to the long rides now and everyone was acclimatized.

Part 4

Our last portion of the trip. We arrived back into Lhasa again. This time late at night. We were supposed to go to see a traditional dance performance but there was a huge mix up regarding tickets etc. I won’t get into it, but all I can say was that it was a big waste of time. I would have rather have liked to be own my own the last day there.

The next day ( day 15 of the trip ) some of us went again to the Jokhang at 5am. It was a cold, rainy morning, and we were in a different hotel, so we had to take a taxi. After our chanting, we burned some incense and said good-bye to Lhasa, and the temple. We had to get back to the hotel by 8 am to meet the others, and we would leave Lhasa again. This time, for the final time.

It was very sad. I felt at home there during the short time in the city. I feel I will be back again, but I don’t know when right now. Many more travels are planned.

I did feel a peace there that I hadn’t had for a long time. And a feeling that life was going to be different returning back to Taiwan. Simpler- at least I hope it will be.

It was a quite drive out of Lhasa. Everyone felt a little melancholy. Our first stop was just outside the city at Dreprung Monastery. This was at one point, one of the greatest learning centers in the world, which had over 10000 monks. Now, there are many who still practice here. It was nicer than I expected, it had a good feel to it.

Our final days we visited 4 monasteries as well as Yangbulangang palace, which is the oldest building in Tibet. It’s located on a hill overlooking a valley. Considered the “cradle of Tibetan culture”, it is a smallish building, that looks big due to its positioning on the hill.

There is a small chapel in the building.

On our last day, we visited Samye monastery, the oldest monastery in Tibet. My photos of this place were accidently destroyed when there was a power out while my film was being processed. I lost about 75 photos..

Samye monastery was a little disappointing. I expected more. But on the same day we went to the Pik Chuk hermitage, which was very cool.

Located nearby, we all piled into the back of a big truck, and held on as it clumbered up the hills. We stopped to pick up a monk on the way. It was hot, and dry, and it took us about 45 minutes to the small monastery. From there, it was another 2 hour hike up the hills to the hermit caves, were monks were living in tiny refuge caves. Some had been there meditating for over 15 years! Only some of us hiked up in the sun. It was very hot that day. I carried some prayer flags to be hung up at the top, for someone, so it kept me going in the heat. The view was nice from the top.

This year, there have many many typhoons in Taiwan. As I type this now, there is one passing over us.. While in Tibet, a super typhoon came through Taiwan, and we were uncertain if we would be able to fly back. I was hoping we wouldn’t and would be stuck in Chengdu for a few days. That way, I could grab a nice tea, and visit an old friend there.. unfortunately the fight was still on schedule, just a little delayed.

I spent the last of my money, at the airport. I bought a big photography on the landscape of Western China. Not only will it remind me of Tibet, but it will also inspire me for the next trips to the area. I still have Jiu Zai Gou, Mt. Emei, Dunhuang, Xinjiang etc. to go..

We made it back to Lhasa after 4 days on the road. Going back to Lhasa we met some pilgrims on the roadside. They had been travelling one year, 4000km on foot, praying each step from China to Tibet. Their goal was to see the Potala and the Jokhang. We were touched by their story, and gave them food, money, and clothing to help them out.

We stopped by the birthplace of Songsten Gampo, the first king of Tibet during the 5^th century. We didn’t actually go into the townsite ( needed an extra permit and we were pressed for time ).

Traffic jams due to road pavement caused us to lose several hours on the road. It was hot sometimes because the bus couldn’t have the air conditioning on during steep climbs up the mountains. The engine needed the extra energy.

Back in Lhasa, the group split up and several of us went to Makye Ame and it was then that I did my big shopping spree. Because of our tight schedule, it was now or never. So I did several heavy hours bargaining back at the shops.

The next morning we left Lhasa again. This time, toward the East. We needed another permit for this area, and I’m not sure how we got it, because it’s not supposed to be open to civilians..

The first stop was to Drigung Til monastery. ( see photo). On the way down, we stopped to examine the bus. Several of us got out, and wanted to get a quick bite to eat.

Before the food even arrived, and with beer only just opened, we had to leave again. The bus was “ok” and we wouldn’t need stay long. I had to cancel my order, apologize, and run out with two beers in my hand, and onto the bus.

Out in Bayi area. The elevation was under 3000 meters. The landscape was like Canada. Alpine forest. It was beautiful. Flowing rivers, big trees, horses grazing..

But I missed the high, barren Tibetan plateau. The big sky and the yaks.

The trip east was going to be another 14 hour day on the bus. Once we got to the hotel, we rested.

The next day we visited some beautiful lakes, walked through the forests, and only saw one temple.