Shigaste and Gyanste

Trip Start Jul 31, 2007

Trip End Aug 12, 2007

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Flag of China Shigaste, China
Monday, August 6, 2007

Decided to venture out of Lhasa this weekend and vist Yamdrok-tso Lake, Shigaste, and Gyanste. with our group of four (two Germans- two Chinese- one French- and myself) we visited Yamdrok-tro Lake that is turquoise in colour. It will sadly not exsist in 20 years if china has it's way and uses the water from this dead lake( a lake that can't replenish itself) to be used for electricity. we then arrived in Shigaste to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, I decided to opt out of the visit inside and went for a walk around the Kora. I hae learnt to say hello in Tibetian ( Tashi dele) and this get me alot of smiles and hellos back. these people are intriged by me and my lonely planet guide as they also seem to be grabbing it from my hands. I like walking the kora of monasteries as no other tourist do this and you can see the sweet peaceful tibetians. our group ventures out to dinner and then off to a karoke bar. The Chinese love their Karoke (not very Tibetian) the interesting thing is that you aren't in a bar area where random people get up to sing, no, we are shown into our own private room and left to literally entertain ourselves

mantra

. And yes i even gave it a try and i had only one glass of wine, before i did this.
Early morning rise and off to Gyanste.... a town that yes has the main street filled with chinese shops, but Old Tibetian Town is just that. I loved this part no other tourists, no chinese stores, just the raw homes of tibetians with cows parked out the front of each door. Young children flying kites and little ones asking you for money, which you give and in-return they let you have a photo with them, only if they get to see it. both the women and children are beautiful, there skin so pure and such innocent eyes. we paid a quick vist to Pelkor Chode Monestery (yes another monestery- once you have seen one, two, three, you have seen them all). and then walked up a hill with killer stairs to the top of Gyanste Dzong a 14th century fort with amazing views of Gyanste.
After a long drive back to Lhasa we arrive at 10pm to see the Potala alive with lights, a perfect photo opportunity.
Today I visted yet another Monestery called Sera. What drew me to this was at 3pm the Monks have a debating sessions in the court yard. This is amaxing to see. a court yard filled with Buddhist Monks dressed in their red robes and while one sits the other is standing and not yelling but discussing teachings. they slap their hands and stamp their feet.