China's ancient disneyland

In 1993 there was an earthquake in Lijiang. Fortunately, the ancient town of Lijiang was not largely damaged, and it was placed UNESCO world heritage.

The old town is full of small canals, cobbled paths, stone bridges, ancient chinese houses etc. Part of the ancient tea horse route. The architecture are beautiful but that is all.

The houses now house souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels etc. So if you like souvenir shopping, then it is your place.

Unfortunately, we were bothered to go far and hence could not say more about places surrounding this ancient disneyland!


- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Lijiang,china

Leaving shangri-la

We travelled for 5 hours from Shangri-la to Lijiang. Still in Yunnan. I had the seat next to the driver, who started the journey with chanting. However, when we diverted the journey to stop by the Tiger Leaping Gorge. He started grumbling about the road. I understood his concern as the road was under repair and we were definitely in a bit of danger. Jon was so concerned that he begged us to turn back.

Tiger Leaping Gorge was beautiful. You have thousands of meters of shear mountain cliff amid a few small villages.

Anyway, we did not stayed there, only for lunch! We made a mental note to cone back again.

After lunch, we continued and crossed over to Lijiang. As we leave Diqing prefecture, a little pinch in my heart to leave my new found friends in shangri-la.

The countryside of Lijiang was beautiful, and the ground get greener as we decent. The driver who was happily fed after lunch, took us to the first bay of Yangtze river, the longest river in china. You really have to see it to be wooed by its beauty. What really attract me is the simplicity of country life.

Another hour and we reached our hostel Lijiang old town.




- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:China

Thangka

Thangka painting is an art form which was exported from Nepal to Tibet which had a bit of influence from Tang China.

It has become popular with the Tibetan because of its transportable form as early Tibetan were mostly nomadic.

Thangka painting skills are passed through generation within the artist family.

Some are painted by talented monks. In the old days, these may be visualization that appeared in their meditation.

We have the honor to meet a master like this - Lama Lobsong Kedrup at the Thangka Academy.

His paintings are full of meanings and we spent many hours talking about these. Being a Buddhist, it fascinates me to hear all the stories behind a thangka - the meanings of each symbol, the reason behind a colour.

The Master's painting is quite different to most thangka. When I get back, I will add one on here. So watch this space.



- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Shangri-la, China

Gen Tharpa Gongcheng

On the last day in Shangri-la, master took us to visit his good friend and master who spent 27 years in meditation retreat in the mountain.

When we arrived at a little room in Song Zhan Lin monestary, we were greeted by a smiling old monk. We offered him a white silk scarf each, and he blessed it and offered it back to us.

Upon inspection, his room contains a stove, his cot where he sleeps and meditates, a few utensils and stools for visitors. And nothing more. Yet this monk beamed inner content and happiness, not worried about having any world comfort. What a freedom he possesses.

We spoke through the master for quite a while. He remembered Geshe-la from the days in India.

Before we said goodbyes, he gave us another white silk scarf to bless our journey and bid us a safe return to Shangri-la.

This kind of draw our six weeks stay to an end. But beginning of our journey to get back to Singapore.
- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Shangri-la, china