April 13, Friday

April 13, Friday

Our first full day in Lhasa.   We are scheduled to visit the Jokhang Temple this morning (built in the 7^th century by Tubo King Songtsen Gampo and rebuilt in the 17^th century by the 5^th Dalai Lama) it is Tibet’s spiritual centre and the holiest destination for Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims.  The entire temple complex occupies approximately 25,000 sq.meters.   But there are some “Big Potatoes” in town (dignitaries from other countries, must be the same Turkish delegation that was in Xi-An !)  so we can’t visit when we want and have to wait an hour and switch things around.   Located on Barkhor Square, the main plaza, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of pilgrims walking around and around the temple in a clockwise direction, some with prayer wheels, some prostrating themselves  all the way around it.   The circular street around the temple is filled with shops selling tourist souvenirs, and there are also hundreds of tourists from all over the world, so it is a very busy place.  I bought a few handmade trinkets to support the local community. 

 Fountain on the way to the Square

 The ever present Dharma Wheel on the wall surrounding the square

 On the pilgramage to the site,  worshipers prostrating themselves in front of the temple

 The entrance to the temple

 The base of the huge prayer post, covered in coloured paper prayers

 The top of the prayer post

 

There are lots of vendors in the square

  and a lot of people
 The smoke from the burning offerings cloud the square and burn our eyes
 The people walking around the temple
 Many whith their prayer wheels and beads
 Even the very little make their way around the temple.
 We join the crowds and make it around the temple, but only once.  I wonder how many times the worshipers  circle the temple
 Lady with a long tress and beautiful hat.  We noticed that many ladies were wearing fancy hats, even though they were wearing traditional costumes.  Their version of "Sunday best"?
 The tall prayer post









This appeared to be a 4-generations group of women

 Part of the plaza is filled with vehicles and people

We then visit a medical clinic, also located on Barkhor Square,  where they practice natural medicine.  We are shown body charts used for teaching and diagnostic purposes.   Extremely interesting.  Everything is about balancing the body’s systems:  yin & yang.   When they examine a person, they start with a visual examination: tongue, eye, urine, etc.  They then do an examination by touch:  pulse on each part of the body.   The last part of the examination is by talking to the patient:  age, food they eat, family, job, etc.   They utilize therapeutic techniques with regard to stress prevention and diet:  add items, eliminate items, increase amounts of certain items.   They will use natural medication as much as possible, but will resort to chemical medication if necessary.  They use massage, acupressure and acupuncture, blood-letting, hot & cold therapies and cupping (but only as a last resort).  Note to self *** cross reference with foot massage with regard to the cupping!
 The doctor giving us insight into natural medicine

We finally get to enter the temple grounds
 The first courtyard
  Colourful painted woodwork
 A very old door
 Partially repainted area
 The main temple buildings

From the roof
 The Dharma wheel
  A view down into the plaza
 The Potala palace in the distance, as seen with my new zoom camera
 A monk walking in the plaza, talking on his cell phone.

Can’t remember where we had dinner that night, and I have to photos to refresh my memory, but I’m sure the food was delicious since I can’t remember having one bad meal during the entire tour with Go-Way tours.