64. Prayers

Well I gained a lot of merit yesterday, I went to prayers twice!

In the morning, at the little temple on the Kora - 4 monks chanting with about 10 or 15 people there, it was delightful and they included me in a little ceremony at the end with a song and some tsampa throwing (little handfuls of barley flour).  I have no idea what it was all about but it felt good to be part of it.

And in the afternoon at the main temple.  Hundreds of people sitting on the floor, lots of monks and nuns, all chanting together.  We were all given a cup of butter tea half way through - there is something about being given a cup of tea - you feel welcome, included.  Butter tea - its a Tibetan staple: tea made with (often rancid) butter, drink it while its good and hot, think of it as soup and its OK - it's the best thing to keep you warm and sustained up at altitude in the cold.  Many westerners find undrinkable.

Saw 2 volunteers off on the bus to Delhi - its an ever changing population, good people, good times.