Potala II and Jokhang II

After my yoga class to day I decided to walk to the Kalachakra Temple which is the temple adjoining the Dalai Lama’s residence. Collectively, the temple and the residence is called the Tsuglagkhang Complex. It isn’t an inspiring collection of buildings; just ordinary blocks perhaps from around a decarde ago.

The temple itself wasn’t grand and was more like a couple of shrines. However, the tankas (icons) were beautiful. In my head, I thought it was only a shadow of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. I called it Potala II.

I saw the gate with armed guards nearby and concluded that it was the residence of the Dalai Lama and named it Jokhang II (after the real thing back in Lhasa).

No cameras or cellphones were allowed on site. Metal detectors and frisking measures were in place. What surprised me most was the woman frisker frisking the monk! In some other cultures, monks cannot come into contact with women.

The visit didn’t take too long and I was soon wandering back to my hotel, while the weather was dry.  A this time of year, McLeod Ganj is pleasant, neither warm nor cold.  But it is quite misty and wet; it is just that much higher Dharamsala to be above the cloud line. Many of the mish-mash multi-storey buildings are covered in green moss and the roads/tracks are muddy. While the countryside is covered in nice green conifers, I can’t exactly describe the town as pretty. If it weren’t for the Dalai Lama, it probably wouldn’t be touristy (or very worthwhile) at all.

I met the non-Israeli members of the class for dinner at Dharamkot. Israelis don’t seem to socialise much except amongst themselves; they don’t even join us for lunch after yoga class on-site.  This is my first time hanging out with women in India and it is quite an eye-opener how much staring, harassment and even groping they encounter.