After visiting Potala Palace, we spent the next day or two seeing a few other monasteries in town, eating at some good Indian/Nepali restaurants and just walking around town. We followed the pilgrims' circuit around a holy part of the city, lined with prayer wheels that are spun to symbolize reading the prayers etched upon them and filled with devout followers laying on their stomachs, giving themselves to their gods. We also visited Jokhang Temple, another of the famous monasteries of Tibet and a World Heritage Sight. As would be the case for most of the trip, we saw hundreds of interesting drawings and statues of Buddhist idols, though I don't think I could give you all of the names anymore. The climate was nice and cool, and the skies were fairly clear, but after two and a half days in town, we were all ready to hit the road and see some of the wonderful countryside.
(This is a locked room in a basement just in front of Jokhang Temple, filled with smoke and thousands of candles contributed by the followers that flock from all over to this holy place. I really like this picture.)
(Inside Jokhang Temple, revealing a pleasant courtyard and flowers.)
(Another view of Potala Palace, from the roof of Jokhang Temple.)
(Zoom out. Here's the view from the roof. Barkhor Square, some restaurants and lots of vendors selling candles made of yak butters, prayer flags and hats line the streets. Potala is in the background.)
(A few monks doing their circuit. Apparently the government supports their habit, so I guess they have nothing else to do.)
(Potala Palace at night. There is also a tiny light and water show in front of the monument that would be directly behind me while taking this picture. Not good enough to distract me for too long from the amazing palace.)
(Norbulingka - the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama, back before he fled from Tibet in 1959. I guess this place doesn't get much use other than tourists these days. Side note: I first typed "before he fleed from Tibet." I think my English is really suffering here in China. It's ok, I'll fit right in.)
(Some of the many prayer wheels lining a pagoda at one of the monasteries just outside of town. I believe this is the one that David, the old Israeli, didn't visit because he had seen enough Buddhas. He sat in the car.)
(Me and the palace, thanks to the self timer and my backpack.)
(So apparently monks do have something else to do...they shop for outdoor goods and fake North Face jackets. I found this guy and his friend (also a monk) in this shop with me, so we had a good time trying on stupid hats and sunglasses. By the way, just his sunglasses are stupid. The ones I'm wearing are actually mine. Glad we cleared that up.)
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