Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

There are many monasteries along the way to Lhasa. Each is unique but they do share some common threads. Yak butter candles, usually hundreds, illuminate the interiors and give off a distinct smell. Brightly colored murals illustrating Buddha's life flicker in their glow. Elderly, weathered monks sit silently with texts or chant mantras while spinning hand-held prayer wheels. The young novice monks do not display that same serenity but bound across the compound playing games. I captured this moment when a group of novices approached me. They were taken with a Buddhist/Hindu tattoo that I have on my left arm; one was brave enough to pull up my sleeve as the rest looked on. I snapped away.