Fahni is going the distance from Chengdu to Xi'an

[fahni]

Day 7: in Xiahe


I had slept very well and decided to walk through town a little more before visiting the Labrang monastery. Only a few days before, a member of Labrang had self-immolated in Lhasa and so I was expecting a heavy police presence but to my surprise there was less police present than in any place in the Aba county I had crossed in Sichuan.


Then, at the main monastery, I joined an English guided tour of four swiss guys. The tour was really interesting and I advise anybody passing that area to take some time for this little jewel. You get the feeling of a really small community with lots of pilgrims. A few souvenir shops and hostels and the other places sell what the herders need. You can buy tents, pots, carpets, handmade Tibetan boots and the like. Andof course: the tibetan caterpillar fungus which is used in traditional tibetan medicine.


streets of Xiahe by fahni, on Picuna


mud and gold by fahni, on Picuna


hand-carved gate by fahni, on Picuna


monk on the roof by fahni, on Picuna


prayer wheels by fahni, on Picuna


stupa by fahni, on Picuna


I was really happy that I had scheduled a rest day there. Unfortunately, I learned that a few days later the whole town and especially the monastery was locked down by the police and quite a few monks were detained and questioned.


I don’t want to repeat Wikipedia, so for more info please turn there. I will only post some pictures.


the main hall by fahni, on Picuna


allegories by fahni, on Picuna


inner courtyards by fahni, on Picuna


who's afraid? by fahni, on Picuna


butter sculpture by fahni, on Picuna




Chengdu-Xi'an 2012 by fahni, on Picuna


Gathering for the prayer by fahni, on Picuna


tsampa sculptures supposedly resempling a sacred mountain by fahni, on Picuna


family business by fahni, on Picuna

The monk who guided us also told me that most of the monks, especially the ones studying traditional tibetan medicin were all out to attend a special festival and after I asked a little more, it turned out that he was talking about the camp I had seen the day before.

After the tour, I had a late not-so-bad breakfast at Himalaya coffee and hostel and decided that it was time to give my bike some love. First, I had it cleaned, then the chain was tightened and lubed and an oil change was in order as well. Also the exhaust pipe had become a little loose at the exit from the cylinder block.

bike wash by fahni, on Picuna

It started to rain and I quickly went to fill her up before I returned to the hotel and had a cup of tea with some of the monks I had met in the morning.

After a good treat of yak meat and rice I connected to the world with some phone calls and emails to friends and family to let them know I am ok before I went to bed.