a land of Tibet

We're in our coracle on Joro lake having made our way from Kandze over the Dresel La pass which according to our Footprint Tibet handbook is also called the Latseka pass. Dresel la is fairly high at 3962 meters, just about 13,000 feet coming down from the Kawalungring mountains. Joro is a beautiful lake not far from the Zhe chu. The Zhe chu flows into the Yalong Dza chu at Drango which is one of the five Mongol states.We're thinking of all the stories of Tibetan past we've heard in the nomad tents! Our Footprint Tibet handbook actually describes the inhabitants according to Tibetan legend; it seemed a ferocious place! I've actually seen some pictures of the tents being woven; they seem to be woven in long narrow bands with simple looms that are set on the ground that use forked branches to raise up the sets of warp threads. I guess they sew them together afterwards. Anyway the ruins I mentioned in the poem were those of the Gelukpa monastery that was built in 1642 called Joro Gonpa whose name two as one we'll add to the poem a bit later. The katak scarfs I mention are, as we know from the Dalai Lama's book, presented to spiritual masters or officials when being granted an audience. They are also given as keepsakes to commemorate special events or to accompany those traveling on long journeys and to express greetings and respect generally. The custom was introduced by none other than Drogon Chogyel Phakpa! The ones on the doors of the monastery would most likely have been of the higher quality silk rather than the more ordinary woven cotton fabric. They can be as long as 7 metres, about 23 feet long which seems very impressive! Generally they' re white but can be blue, red, green,yellow or all the colors. Not far from here is Trewo in the Zhe chu valley, another one of the five Trehor Kingdoms. There is a small village around the ruins of the citadel where Tibetans have made small earthen houses with flat roofs. I wonder how they make those! There's a lot more to add but as usual two as one we'll add to the notes later beautiful one!


	Through My Eyes * We're in our coracle on Joro lake having made our way from Kandze over the Dresel La pass which according to our Footprint Tibet handbook is also called the Latseka pass. Dresel la is fairly high at 3962 meters, just about 13,000 feet coming down from the Kawalungring mountains. Joro is a beautiful lake not far from the Zhe chu. The Zhe chu flows into the Yalong Dza chu at Drango which is one of the five Mongol states.We're thinking of all the stories of Tibetan past we've heard in the nomad tents! Our Footprint Tibet handbook actually describes the inhabitants according to Tibetan legend; it seemed a ferocious place! I've actually seen some pictures of the tents being woven; they seem to be woven in long narrow bands with simple looms that are set on the ground that use forked branches to raise up the sets of warp threads. I guess they sew them together afterwards. Anyway the ruins I mentioned in the poem were those of the Gelukpa monastery that was built in 1642 called Joro Gonpa whose name two as one we'll add to the poem a bit later. The katak scarfs I mention are, as we know from the Dalai Lama's book, presented to spiritual masters or officials when being granted an audience. They are also given as keepsakes to commemorate special events or to accompany those traveling on long journeys and to express greetings and respect generally. The custom was introduced by none other than Drogon Chogyel Phakpa! The ones on the doors of the monastery would most likely have been of the higher quality silk rather than the more ordinary woven cotton fabric. They can be as long as 7 metres, about 23 feet long which seems very impressive! Generally they' re white but can be blue, red, green,yellow or all the colors. Not far from here is Trewo in the Zhe chu valley, another one of the five Trehor Kingdoms. There is a small village around the ruins of the citadel where Tibetans have made small earthen houses with flat roofs. I wonder how they make those! There's a lot more to add but as usual two as one we'll add to the notes later beautiful one! * courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions. The information for the sketches is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje. ( please click here to return to my spinning for you!)