Looks like Mt Everest is upcoming in this post. Or is it? When I first stepped into Pelkhor Chode Monastery, I was thinking to myself, not another monastery. I was hoping that we could actually go on our way to the trip towards Mt Everest. That’s all I ever wanted. But little did the 3 of us know is that there’s something unique regarding this monastery.

Yes, Pelkhor Chode Monastery is situated at 4050m above sea level. That’s like the peak of Mount Kinabalu, situated in Sabah. Surprisingly it wasn’t that cold and I was able to walk in with not so thick clothes. Unlike the other monasteries that we’ve been seeing all these while, these place is a little bit too far out of the country side. Thus we were able to see how was this monastery used to function.

The monastery is surrounded by walls, high and thick. This is so to look out for intruders and to prevent intruders from going into the monastery to attack it. Daniel is very impressed with the architecture of the whole structure of the area, but then that’s not what make this monastery famous. One thing though, for a monastery such as this, it’s 40 Yuan (there goes another RM20).

The picture below clearly depicts what is different about this monastery.

Look at the EYES along the walls. There are four pairs of them and this is what made this place unique. Another thing though, we are also allowed to go to the upper floors to take photos. The only catch is we have to pay 10 Yuan (another Rm5) which we all declined. (Doubt can ever take any superb photos with the sky so dark).

Finally other than these features, nothing much of this monastery. Though a funny thing happened while we were on the way out. A group of tourists (aunties group) wanted to enter the monastery only to find out they have to pay 40 Yuan for it. Then they gathered on the front gate of the monastery and took photos when the monks there asked them to leave for being cheapskate. They didn’t bothered the monk and took the photos and left with their bus. What a strange incident if you could actually see the monk’s expression and frustration of the so called cheap group.

Finally it’s time to move on. But little did we (when I say we, it means Me, EkWei and Kenny) know, we’re still are not able to continue our journey towards the mountain yet. There’s another monastery that we’re compulsory to make a stop.

This place is a whole lot bigger than the small monastery we’ve visited though. Using gold as ornaments. I must say it’s a fine monastery. Have another close up on the roof.

Yup, actually we’ve traveled quite a distance to reach this monastery and that’s why the sky is now bluish compared to the early darker sky. Kind of strange, the sky being so blue, unlike the ones I get to see here.

This monastery is also one of the most frequented. Well, with a big giant statue of Buddha, that could be the reason. Pilgrims or locals would come here, then they will walk past a path and ring the bell 3 times before going in. Then 1 time before going out.

This is the bell I am talking about.

Of course sometimes am able to capture certain shots that isn’t so monastery like. Just playing with my camera and testing it out. Well, either you can call me weird or maybe I just wanted to try something different.

But then maybe that’s not the real reason, do you see a group of people on the right? Yes, all of them are female and their doing some kind of ritual dance on the rooftop. I still don’t know why? But it sure is interesting.

The sun was blazing hot, but they still carried on doing the dance.

Soon it was time to say goodbye. Next photo is time to leave, and why is the sky so blue? I used vivid settings on my Nikon D300. That’s why it turned out that blue.

Where to next?

Let the photos do the talking and you do the thinking.

ps : In terms of photo shooting, something is not right with this photo. Though sometime rules are meant to be broken.

Finally it’s my turn to appear!

You don’t actually need a DSLR to take photos, this is proven by this person next.

Ahemz… see the camera PLEASE.

By the way, what do we all hoped to catch with our cameras here. The next photo will definitely give you an answer.

Wooots… more snow. Guessed that concludes this post. But wait where’s Mt Everest? Didn’t I mentioned it on the title. Ahemz… yup, it’s behind the lump of cloud there. Okay, then if you’re not satisfied, let’s sing.

I’ve got a feeling
Why the mountain hide from me x 2
hide from me~~~~
I’ve got a feeling
That maybe because I am weird x 2

Put away that cloud, let’s give it up
Go dance with me, let’s call it up
Why you so impatient, then just scroll down

Just scroll down, just scroll down, just scroll down~~

Woo hoo~~~~~

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After what have been a long time, it’s been overdue and this time I am trying to finish what I have been doing all these while. My last post talks about me in Potala Palace and what’s in store in there. Basically you will see Dalai Lama’s old place, the 3 Buddha statues (Past Buddha, Present Buddha and the Future Buddha).

Moving Around Lhasa Tibet
Monastery Visit Around Tibet
Drepung Monastery
etc.. do view more from the Tibet category under Travel.

The view up there wasn’t as spectacular due to the palace is situated right at the city. So what do we do after walking up like few hundred meters up the palace, I took photos…. of myself again. This time thank you Kenny for helping me shoot these series.

But before that I would like to have your eyes upon this layer of sticks. Yes, they are part of what the palace walls were made of. Made from wood and those papers you see stuck between the wood are Yuan notes (China currency) with the occasional of other countries currency. Well, it seems mostly locals donate their money to the preservation of the temple/palace this way.

Now after what seemed to be a long time of taking scenery and the palace itself, I just had to do a jump.

Kinda miss the long hair though. Is like I have a ponytail at the back. Well, if I wanted to tie, I could though. Now after all the walking, it’s time to go out the exit and we were surprised that we came out from another door.

Hmmm.. Potala Palace, if I were to go to Tibet again, I don’t think I would bother spending 100 Yuan to go up this palace again. Seems all you need is to visit it once. Finally it’s time for lunch. I miss modern food and decided to get something I used to drink. That’s when I called for Sprite. Guessed who was on the Sprite container.

JAY CHOU?????? Really =_=”" Sprite ambassador?

It got me thinking, why do people collect Coca Cola cans, but not Sprite? Then I find that it’s useless thinking these kind of stuffs. After what seemed to be a long rest, it’s time for the next temple to visit. This time another temple which cost us 40 Yuan. Why is every temple costing so much?????

Since we got used to temple structures all the temples almost look alike, I decided to scout for some main architectures and designs of that temple. This was what I found then.

Shot using the 55-200mm VR, I got this shot. Seemingly a zoom lens was put into proper use that time. Nothing beats posing with the background of the whole temple though.

I see Bruce Lee in Tibet~~~~ not… darn it was hot and I was squinting my eyes. What are those decorations or ornaments made of? They’re made of Gold! Yes…. real GOLD.

Of course I wasn’t the only person on top the temple worth shooting at. (paiseh *shy*) There’s also the occasional monk climbing on top the roof to go on to the other side of the building.

Unlike the houses and temples in Malaysia, the roofs here are mainly flat. No tiles. From far, the red garment makes it look like Spiderman was climbing up the wall. This monk seems to capture my eyes and I decided to capture it at the moment.

Now what about Tibetan people? All these time, it was architecture and scenery, what about the people? This is how a Tibetan woman from afar looks like.

Yes, this shot was taken during lunch time on the top of a building. Look at the Tibetan woman below. I think I need a 600mm to get close enough.

Of course, other than Tibetan woman, there are the occasional tourist from other parts of China. Suddenly I feel much at home.

A Female Tourist from China

Ngek Ngek Ngek Ngek……

Signing off – till next time.

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Yo it’s me again Daniel (known as DanielCtw) and time for a recap of my Tibet adventures. This post will take a super long time for me to write about the whole thing due to the many days I spent there. Of course any Tibet post won’t be completed without the blogger himself appearing inside the photos taken.

Yes, I am so full of myself. I just have to act a killer pose here. Okay, it’s weird that this photo should be the start of this post. Well, that’s me I guess. Now back to our Tibet Monastery post. As mentioned, I visited the Drepung Monastery previously and these are some of the weird things I witnessed there.

What is that? A satellite fallen from space? Or is it about the weird expression on the woman. Surprisingly what I wanted to say is why the heck are there 2 flasks lying down there. Only to notice that there was a kettle in the middle of the whole thing. Surprisingly smart, innovative way to boil a water. Solar powered kettle. Beat that William. What a weird sight, but nevertheless creative.

Well, setting aside that, had the privilege of standing on top the roof of the monastery and this is what I took for the fun of it.

There, that’s how it looks like. Straight from the camera. Beautiful? Not beautiful? It’s up to your eyes. The scenery to me was breathtaking and in additional to the cold weather and insufficient air, I felt hungry. Lucky me and the gang and the guide finally decided to eat. Darn I am hungry. So where to eat on our first day of guided daily tour in Lhasa, Tibet

The place chosen was Lhasa Namaste Restaurant. After looking through the menu, there are western, chinese, nepalese and tibetan food. Seeing as I am now in Tibet, of course I would want to try Tibetan food. Food’s fine, but the most challenging and weird thing I did was to try the drink which most Tibetans drink. The deadly yummy Tibetan Yak Butter Milk Tea.

Yak Butter Milk Tea in a cup. Why try something not Tibetan when you’re there. Here’s my experience of it, after sipping one sip, I had this feeling all over me. My taste buds were okay for awhile until the oily taste seeps in and ewwwww… I can’t stand the smell later on. It’s like I got this taste over me all the time until the following day.

Trying to act cool while drinking the Yak Butter Milk Tea is hard.

Seriously I will try any food thrown at me, as long as it’s edible. This was how it went.

Now better believe it. It taste just like drinking oil + tea. Glad that’s done with and yes, I finished the whole cup. Then after that I’ve been able to taste the same taste through out the day that walking past a Yak Butcher Stall, it got me to think about that frightful weird experience.

That’s a butcher resting with the Yak meat pieces hanging on the wood. Finally it was time to visit the next monastery and to forget about the experience of ever drinking the tea. The problem is that, candles are lit up in the monastery with the same butter that was use in the tea. It made me felt uneasy a little.

The monastery in the second one has a beautiful backdrop. I am glad the sky was blue and not gray to be able to capture this shot. Though I wanted something different. So I look for certain angles to shoot and here’s one of those shots.

An old building that has a weird structure to it. Look at the texture of it. Somehow I prefer this sight over the modern type buildings. It’s like there are history to be told, and waiting to be found out. One special thing about this monastery is actually the monks will be doing their debate here. Debate? Well, the debate is held in order to choose the next possible Master Monk. I did witness the scene but somehow it looks like it’s quite publicize.

Though a monk was glaring at me when I took this photo. Seems like he doesn’t like me. “Please don’t Kung Fu me!”

Monk : It’s hot here, and you why do you take my photo?
Daniel : *poof*

Total Damage done on that day for visitations.

Drepung Monastery : 40RMB
Second Monastery : 40RMB

Such crazy prices to visit monasteries if you would ask me.

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