Tibetan Journey
Sakya Monastery
After a long drive through extensive roadworks, we arrived at Sakya Monastery in time for lunch. However, the restaurant was full of monks, so our guide, Tenzin, suggested we have a look around the monastery first. We had just started walking around in the main gompa when Tenzin called us back outside. "Quick, something special is about to happen!" Something special indeed. We were sat at the front of an immense crowd of Tibetans and for the next hour or so mesmerised by a performance of religious dancing! Brilliant.
The photo of me was taken by a young Tibetan man - dressed very like those behind me - who was very interested in my camera's cleaning cloth holder. I demonstrated its use, then showed him how to look through the viewfinder. He gestured to me, asking permission to hold the camera. I turned it on, gave it to him (to much amazed hissing from his friends!), he stepped back, took my picture, handed the camera back, tipped his hat and disappeared into the crowd before I could think of taking his photo in return. Altogether a magical day at Sakya!
