The day was set up this way so the trek operator could get our Tibet visas. Fingers crossed! We got to know our group and everyone is very well traveled. Our guide for the 20 days is Rajendra who lives in Kathmandu, Nepal but grew up in a small town in the mountains of Nepal. The group seems to be really great. The carvings were amazing and one temple had Kama Sutra carvings, which made quite an impression on Jen.
Bodnath Stupa was awesome as well. Worshippers walked clockwise around it 3x, prayer flags were everywhere, and the decoration of it was stunning. We walked around the square where Jokhang Temple is which whetted our appetite for the next day! It started off a bit drizzly at 12, feet but once we got the view at breakfast of the mist in the surrounding mountains, it was worth it.
As the skies gradually cleared, we visited Jokhang Temple which is a very important Tibetan Buddhist temple. It was an incredible experience to do the abolutions walk, clockwise, around the temple.
The people were amazing as well. The views from the top of the temple captured the Potala Palace in the distance and the square in front of the Temple where huge juniper incense burners and holy poles stood. The experience at Jokhang was really moving and we wish we could stay there for days! After a great lunch of curry, yak, pizza, and banana fritters overlooking the square, we visited Potala Palace.
The palace is a Tibetam Buddhist monastery from the 17th Century until , and was also the political seat of Tibet. Dalai Lamas have been entombed there 7th through the 13th DL. The current DL is the 14th but sadly is in exile in India since It is an incredible structure divided into the white palace political and the red palace religious.
