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Lhasa is the Tibetan
capital with rich green and water. It is special in central Tibet. In the 'city of sunshine', green trees shade us from the glaring sunlight. When we enjoy the cool air under trees, we understand the nickname Tibetans give their own land-- sir jong, 'cool land'. |
| Another 'green' has rooted firmly here for long
and made more presence. They are soldiers in green uniform, driving
green trucks and tanks. On a day of July, I found many green soldiers and trucks gathering at the Potala Square. A red banner claimed "Armed Police Tibet Main Troop's Entertainment Exchange Party for 76th celebration of its Establishment", meaning a recreation event for soldiers. |
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| Many local Tibetans were surrounding the square to enjoy the stage in really relaxed air. Tibetan dance teams showed songs and dances. Comedians performed comical plays to raise peaceful and safe laughter among the soldiers. When an officer, who seemed to be highly ranked, showed a hopelessly tone-deaf song with Karaoke, the Potala Square was filled with laughter. Everything was actually peaceful. No tension was there. | |
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| All the programs finished in relaxing mood. All the soldiers were packed into the back of trucks and left the square. The tanks and armored cars, which sat on both sides of the stage, crept into the Beijing Road running in front of Potala, turned to the right at the corner of the Post Office and went away slowly to their base. | |
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Drapche (or Drapchi) Lhamo Temple is sited in the northern part of Lhasa. Famous for the powerful Goddess "Lhamo", the temple is small but active. In front of the main gate, many stall keepers are always selling liquor and incense as offerings for the Goddess. It is a lovely place of praying and loved among local Tibetan people. |
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| Passing the gate, we can find the Lhamo Chapel
on the right side and the main assembly hall is on the left side.
Lhamo Chapel always smells liquor because of endless offerings
for Goddess Lhamo. Recently the temple has been under renovation
to restore the heavy damage by the Cultural Revolution. All the
murals are newly painted. They are actually new and beautiful. But all the statues are put inside glass cabinets. The Chapel filled with pink fluorescent lamps reminds me of massage parlors in the city. The old and mysterious atmosphere passed away. |
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After we give an offering liquor
to Lhamo and say hello to the new Gods and Goddesses, shall we
climb the ladder up to the roof? We can see green woods and new buildings with brown roofs behind the temple. What are these modern buildings? |
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| "Tibet Autonomous Region Prison" -- it is known as Drapche (Drapchi) Prison where many political prisoners are reportedly jailed. The main gate is just neighbor of the temple. | |
