Day 421 - Getting to know the temples of Repkong

We slept in today for the first time in a looooonng time, and boy it was nice! After finally getting up and ready, we found a minivan heading to Wutun Si (temple), which for once was cheaper than the guide said - love it when that happens, as the price has usually doubled and then some! At the temple we were shown around by a couple of Tibetan monks, who unlocked several chapels for us so we could have a look. They were all amazing, some were really new while others had hundreds of years to their names. We love how in Buddhism colour is used like an overflowing rainbow - it makes the experience so bright and welcoming. This temple is really famous for its Thangkas (Buddhist paintings) and we were given the chance to look in at the workshop and see some works in progress. After our personal tour, we asked to look around by ourselves, and once again had the freedom to find our own way through the maze of monks' residences and temples, finding welcoming, smiling monks going about their daily religious life around every corner. On our way out we wandered past the 8 stupas that each signify something different - from miracles to enlightenment. We made our way across the valley from one mountainside temple to another - Gomar Gompa. Here yet another friendly monk (though we're not sure you can find many that aren't friendly) took us up the enormous Chorten where we were blown away by the fact we could scale this gorgeous structure.At the top we got great views across the valley to Wutun Si, and the surrounding villages. Our monk made his chants as he cleaned the shrine that occupies the summit of the chorten. We lingered here for some time, not really wanting to make our way down, happily absorbed in the colours painted on every level, that we got to see up close. Where's Wally Denton in this photo?Afterwards Adam was allowed to have a look at the 400 year old temple and monks quarters that once again mazed their way around. Inside Adam stopped to listen to some chanting before making his way back. In the meantime Liv waited outside chatting with a local Tibetan woman who had come to give some food to the monks - she was really happy to be given the temple entrance ticket, which she indicated she would hang on her wall. Liv was even invited to her home for lunch, but didn't want to leave as she knew Adam would be worried if she wasn't there when he got back!

We decided to walk the 6-7km back to town, even though the minivan back would only cost 60 cents for the both of us! On the way we stopped by the river for a snack, and after an hour or so found ourselves once again on the main streets of town.

After a rest and read in the hotel, we came outside to find the same army men from yesterday standing in formation at the door - maybe they're just keeping an eye on us! After our initial shock of seeing them there subsided we even managed a quick hello in response to their surprised smiles.

In the evening we wandered through the bustling fruit, vege and trinket markets and found dinner closeby.

Adlibing the temples outside Tongren.