(the Songzalin monastery in Zhongdian, now given the name of Shangri-la to attract more tourists, including us...)
And a couple of Tibetan women with umbrellas and a government sponsored souvenir shop that we didn't go into...
The real highlight of this monastery, which I didn't photograph because it was prohibited, (and because, duh, it was a worship service) was a small temple full of monks, chanting a prayer ceremony as we walked around the perimeter of the sanctuary. The monks were as old as possibly 90 and as young as six. The younger kids were in the back, and they were quite interested in looking at Xander, and he at them, both smiling and giggling at each other. (Zekey, sadly, was back in the hotel resting after a bit of altitude sickness) It was a strange experience to see kids my son's age with shaved heads and wearing heavy scarlet robes, toying with their small prayer wheels the way American first graders fiddle with their pencils when they're bored. And watching Xander gaze in rapt attention at the whole scene. A strong realization that we are all essentially interchangeable...
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