10.07.09 Visiting monasteries

After breakfast at the hotel, we started sightseeing with the group. First we went to the Drepung monastery in Lhasa which was pretty. We got to see the little dwelling where a nun lived. The dwelling was called a meditation house where the nun was supposed to live for 10 years.

Debating monks in Sera Monastery

After the monastery, we had lunch at the hotel and I had yak meat momos, that were like fried dumplings. After lunch it was time for the Sera monastery, with the debating monks. We saw a group of people making a ceiling in the monastery. They were singing and pounding the ceiling with sticks, and making the ceiling out of clay that way. The guide said that depending on where the ceiling is being made, it can take up to 30 to 40 days to make.

Drepung Monastery

In the evening, we had a Tibetan dinner with a dance show, that even included a dance for taming the yak. We also got to taste the traditional Tibetan yak butter tea, which was quite interesting. I think the yak butter works better for the yak butter candles in the monasteries. :)

Drepung Monastery

On the streets of Lhasa, you can notice the Chinese influence, but there are a lot of women dressed in the traditional Tibetan dress and also some men. And people walking around spinning their prayer wheels. But like I said yesterday, also a lot of police and army with their guns and shields, and the police cars have sometimes also bars in all the windows.