Day 2-Gyuto Tantric Monastery and Norbulingka-Farewell

Gyuto Tantric Monastery: the seat of the 17th Karmapa

A Monk Engaged in an Animated Converstaion: Gyuto

About 2pm or so on the 22nd of October, I hitched a ride to Sidhpur. Initially I planned to go only to the Norbulingka but later decided to go to the Gyuto Tantric university as well. It was overcast and the light really wasnt too great, but it was time well spent.
Gyuto was closed, there were a lot of monks around. The change that I saw everywhere this time was the fact that there were many more policemen everyhwere. I am sure it had something to do with the targetting of tourists and the infiltration of Himachal Pradesh by Kashmiri terrorists.

The reflection is mine. One of the few photos I took of myself.

There were some games going on, and everyone was particularly happy during the tug of war. Lots of grunting and pulling, all in good fun and cheer. NEED A WIDE ANGLE>>>>AAAAH.


Looking on and having fun.

This elderly monk saw me taking pictures and walked over with a flask full of tea and offered me a cup. He was very kind and kept smiling all the while, dint know one word of hindi, for some reason he reminded me of the way Sherlock Holmes might have looked in the Mandala Of Sherlock Holmes. This is a great book I read long ago, and is one of my favorites still.

I took another picture of him later, thanked him. he said Photo and i promised him that the next time i am there, would get him a print.

I like this picture for some reason.

And couldnt resist taking this one....

A view of the hostels for the monks.
From ther I hitched another ride back to Sidhpur from where I went to the Norbulingka.