After some interesting airline stuff ups we had the gift of a day in Shanghai. We walked miles, through old sections, along the Bund and up the main shopping strip. A productive photographic day!
Chengdu again
After a 14+ hour bus trip from Lahrong Monastery to Chengdu, we were ready for some quiet exploration and photography! We left Lahrong at 5 am to get the bus for Chengdu. Rather than go to bus terminus it was decided that we meet the bus at a small town on a cross road where… Continue reading Chengdu again
Lahrong Monastery – Tibet
Arrived in Lharong Monastery, the largest in the world. WOW, OMG!!!! A centre for Buddhist study and contemplation, 3000 monks and 8,000 nuns study here. The monastery operates on the Buddhist Rime principle – all sects accepted and considered equal and important. Open mindedness and debate are the order of the day. The Chinese… Continue reading Lahrong Monastery – Tibet
Road to Lahrong Monastery
One of my favourite topics is road quality. Anything I had seen up to this point paled into insignificance! OMG!! At home 95% of the road would be 4WD only and 75% of it closed as unsafe. Yet here in Tibet the local cars, buses, motorbikes etc pass up and down constantly! It was such… Continue reading Road to Lahrong Monastery
Monks’ Conference – Tibet
The Annual conference of Buddhist monks was held in Chutung Monastery, not far from Dzamthang. It was seen as a photo opportunity too good to miss. On arrival we were greeted by the sight of a thousand burgundy robed monks spread out across the fields, debating, listening, chatting, learning, eating and networking. Delegates badges, bags… Continue reading Monks’ Conference – Tibet
Dzamthang Monastery – Tibet
AMAZING – what else can one say, simply glorious. We were afforded a private tour and free access for photography and video. We started in the main prayer area – SO beautiful!!! Under restoration and being carefully repainted and repaired, we explored the 5 levels around the gorgeous central Buddha. Then we were escorted to… Continue reading Dzamthang Monastery – Tibet
Dzamthang Village – Tibet
We arrived in Dzamthang Village (may have another name, but is the village attached to Dzamthang Monastery) late in the day. The annual Buddhist Monks Conference was occurring in the region and there was a heightened police presence and wariness about how our presence might be received. In order to be low profile we spent… Continue reading Dzamthang Village – Tibet
Thuchen to Dzamthang – Tibet
Another amazing journey – Thuchen to Dzamthang – as we headed approximately westerly, deeper in the TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region). The road was incredible. Paved generally, but subjected to extremes of weather and broken up in sections. Vivid in my memory are the overhanging rock faces, towering across the road and sheer drops on other… Continue reading Thuchen to Dzamthang – Tibet
Monastery by Thuchen
Wow! Wow! Wow! This monastery sat at the top of a huge mountain and was splendid! Stunning views (all the way up!!), beautiful colours … speechless!! Sitting on the mountain top, 1800m above the town (already at 4,500m altitude). Needless to say it was a spectacular drive up!! We zigzagged up through incredible hairpin turns, keeping… Continue reading Monastery by Thuchen
Thuchen, Tibet
Thuchen, Guanyin in Chinese, is spectacular!!!!! We stayed in a lovely guest house; delicious spicy meals and great beds!! There was only cold water in our ‘private’ bathroom, but it was only for one night (and was in fact luxury compared to what was ahead!) Some of us went an hour and a half by car and… Continue reading Thuchen, Tibet