Day 2
This morning we'll be visiting the famous Potala Palace, once home to numerous Dalai Lamas, and in the afternoon we'll pop into the actual Jokhang Temple, and get another chance to photograph around Barkhor Square! The Potala Palace: a landmark in not only Lhasa, but around the world! 432 steps bring us to the top of this magnificent building! No photographs are permitted inside the palace, so not much to show here, but images of Tibetan pilgrims and inhabitants of Lhasa are below.
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An altar on the base of the Potala Palace.
A jewelry vendor sits wrapped warmly in blankets and his "chupa" trying to make a sale to the foreign tourists (American and Chinese, mostly). His prayer wheel was leaning against a tree behind him and I stopped to take a photo of it. He quickly grabbed it but then motioned for me to take his photograph.
I met this handsome tour guide as our group was waiting to go into the Potala Palace. I started chatting with him because I liked his jacket. The outside fabric was silk-like, but the interior and edging were made from goat or possibly even yak fleece. It was a cool fresh morning and he looked somewhat warm with his furry coat. He spoke very good English and we chatted for quite some time. He also spoke Chinese and was, on that particular day, being a guide for a group of Chinese tourists. He introduced me to three of his friends, also tour guides, and one of them was from a place in Tibet called "Shangri La"! Wow - now I can say I know someone who was from Shangri La!!! Very friendly group of young men, but decidedly shy when it came time for me to ask for a photograph.
An older Tibetan swings his prayer wheel and counts off on his malas (prayer beads) as he walks alongside hundreds of large prayer wheels outside the Potala Palace. Pilgrims with their hands free will turn these bigger prayer wheels as they walk along, chanting the name of the Buddha, or other mantras.
A Tibetan woman turning her prayer wheel walks past a prayer flagpole which has been wrapped with thousands of prayer flags. It is believed that the energy of the prayers and the sacred mantras on the flags flown in the wind will bring good things to all who see them, their families, friends, and the entire world!
A Tibetan man spins his prayer wheel in a clockwise directions as he, too walks in a clockwise direction ("Kora" in Tibetan) circumambulating one of the numerous flag poles wrapped with thousands of prayer flags. He is chanting to Buddha, asking for good luck, protection, long life, good health, the well being of others, wisdom, peace, and happiness. It's also a wonderful morning exercise
A red-tasseled Khampa man from eastern Tibet wears a thick yak bone hair ring. The Khampas are the tallest ethnic group in Asia. The men are recognized by the red yarn they wear in their braided hair. They are raised to believe that revenge is a blood-right and sacred duty. They are born warriors! I don't want to mess with this guy - and the gals behind him are stunning!