Tibetan Temples and Taboos.....

My first day in Tibet! Hard to believe I am here in this ancient place with so much history and strife. First thing you are told right off is we will not talk about political issues and you will not ask your guides about topics which are controversial in nature. Topic came up, at the first temple today, about how the Dalai Lama chooses the next successor to the other Lama's. I asked did the Dalai Lama pick the latest one, to which the answer was "I cannot answer that, but you can research it yourself". There are cameras everywhere, even in the guides vehicles. Very tense place and they are serious about

keeping it peaceful. I found out today that Tibet is shut down to foreigners for a month starting October 18 because of the General Assembly meetings at the same time in Beijing. They do not want world focus on Tibet when the meetings are taking place. China is really playing games with the Tibet issue and has gone as far as taking the successor of the Dalai Lama to Beijing where they can train him the way they want. Anyway this place is very on edge and is kind of fun because you can ask questions that will get very funny and interesting responses. We went to see two very old monasteries built back in the 1400's. The Drepung and Sera Monasteries both of which have a lot of significance to the development of the Buddhist religion. We climbed a number of steps to get up to both of these and you could really feel the lack of adequate oxygen. Left you tired after going up only short flights of stairs. We were able to watch a monks debate which was very interesting. They do this quite frequently to

debate philosophical issues. Very animated and intense. The monasteries themselves were really nothing special, but the mountain setting they are in really makes them special. Had a welcome supper tonight with some traditional dancing and food. All very good to see and taste. Tomorrow we get to see the most famous of Lhasa landmarks - The Potala Palace. Should be another interesting day in a beautiful place!