Labrang Monastery 29.9.13

We managed a quick shower this morning with the water situation.  Breakfast wasn't so bad, some yogurt and an omelette.  Then onto the bus for a visit to the Labrang Monastery.  What an amazing place. 99 men live and learn here. The decorations are superb but photos are not allowed except outside and in a small area inside.  We quietly and respectfully walked through the various areas watching monks at prayer, debating and in preparation for different religious ceremonies etc. Labrang is an important place of pilgrimage and is second in size to the Potala Monastery in Lhasa. The Lamasery, built in1709 has more than 10,000 rooms and has a collection of more than 65,000 books.  Lunched on snacks on the bus as we travelled back to Linxia to collect Judy and John.  Judy, thank goodness, is looking so much better. Then a long bus trip back to Lanzhou where we had dinner before catching the overnight train to Jiayuguan.  We shared a "soft sleeper"? with Judy and John.  It was a tight squeeze but we managed to fit in with careful placing of the luggage.  I slept well but the others slept fitfully.  The soft sleepers are tiny cabins with 4 narrow bunks, 2 on each side and a narrow space between with a small table between the lower bunks under the window. Very flat and hard with a pillow and doona of somewhat dubious cleanliness provided. Fortunately Bill and I had silk sleeping bag liners to sleep in and cover the pillow.

Monks in traditional dress at Labrang Monastery

 

Monks coming out for lunch and gathering their shoes

 

Waiting for the monks to come out. Shoes on steps

 

Entrance to our hotel in Xiahe. Owned by Tibetans

 

Interior courtyard of hotel

 

Ceiling in our lavishly decorated room at Xiahe