Lhasa Day 1

Breakfast was a buffet from the hotel and I was able to taste a few Tibetan dishes.

This dish uses barley powder, dried yak cheese, and a little sugar to mix with hot water to a cookie dough consistency. Tastes like barley but I added more water to make it like oatmeal.
The barley dish with toast and yak butter.

Being active is tough here but as the day wore on I felt a bit more acclimated.

Drepung monastery

The monastery was founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsong Khapa. Drepung had over 10 000 monks. As the biggest monastery in Tibet, the lamas helped train new Dalai Lama. There are now 600 monks. Drepung belongs to the Gelupa sect. In the past, if there are two sons in a Tibetan family, one son must become a monk. Now there is a choice. This monastery was the hole of the Dalai Lama before leaving Tibet.

Prayer wheels.
Overlooking the monastery and the city of Lhasa.
In the courtyard, there will be dances during festivals and the Dalai lama would watch from the upper right window.
In front of the monastery. No pictures allowed inside.
Stupa with prayer wheels.
The bathrooms are a long or with half walls. The last time I saw one like that was Yunnan.

Tibetan prayer flags (Lung tas) represent peace, wisdom, compassion and strength it is believed that the flags with the mantras and messages carry the goodwill out to others.

Sera monastery

Founded a few years later in 1419 by one of Tsong Khapa’s eight disciples, this temple became famous for its tantric teachings.

Dormitories on the mountain.
People pray as they walk clockwise around.

The paintings on this rock represent helpers. Wisdom is represented by yellow and blue is protection. These are Bodhisattvas and are male. Compassion is represented by white and longevity is green. These are Taras and are female.

Inside the sanctuary where monks meet for chant and prayer.

Other paintings

Yak butter. It is actually quite tasty.

At the end of the day, a group dinner with traditional music and dancing.