Llasa day 2

so the internet access in Tibet is really good and we have not been sleeping well and altitude really is something else so come 3pm we are all set for a nice break with internet. here are a few more pix from the last few days in Llasa.

Today we ventured out to see The Potala but all the alotted tickets were gone so we got some for tomorrow. Llasa is a city of pilgrims. I think yesterday was especially busy at the temple but every morning the streets, especially the curcuits by the temple are filled with pilgrims, some praying, many holding prayer wheels, and most humming and chanting prayers.the pilgrim curcuits are lined with the big barrell gold drum prayer wheels that they spin while they walk by. A city of pilgrims.

So after we couldn't get into the Potala we got a minibus/van (the main form of transportation) about 4km out of town to another monestary. I think most are the same but what is so cool about Tibet, is that it feels so alive and present. China's rituals seem gone( just perhaps more rural and hidden) but Tibet is bam and here we are meandering through their holy places with them as they pray and devote. Some seem more devote, doing what looks like a muslim prayer (where the kneel and touch their head to the ground) and others wander in in their jeans so there is a vast variety of people and their levels of devotion, etc...They tuck money in nooks and crannies, pour yak butter wax (we think) into the candles to keep them burning, duck their heads under shelves, throw prayers scarves, and touch everything like doors and walls with a certain faith. This monestary was much less packed but with a steady stream of pilgrims. The children get these little black marks on their noses in the temples and they are so cute. We walked through monks quarters, this room where monks were making these prayer prints and the room was full of thousands of wood prayer blocks, and amazing prayer halls.

After a few hours, we made our way back to town and as we wandered to here I saw the most beautiful group of women. I think i could look at the women all day and i need to get better at just taking their pictures in stead of watching them in awe as they pass by. So there are a few different looks the women have, all of them beautiful and elegant no matter what age or status. But one look in particular is gold and coral drop earrings that actually have to have a chain attached to their hair to hold the weight, then a sort of cowboy hat with their hair pinned up to show their neck, and then a sweater with a stand up collar, and a black a-line skirt to the ankles that has a wrap over one of their shoulders. Sort of a tibetan cowboy queen.

tomorrow is definitely the Potala and then the next day we are going to head out 150kms out of Llasa to the oldest monestary in Tibet and stay there...then we will be testing our warm clothes...so we'll see.

beautiful place.