Challenge 5: ACCOMPLISHED!
With the disappointment of failing our first challenge (Challenge 4: Catch a fish) still in our thoughts, we decided to spend a few more days in Qinghai province and attempt our next challenge:
Challenge 5: Experience the life of a monk.
On our way to try and fish at Qinghai Lake, we’d chatted on the bus to a university student who called himself “Goat 5”. He’d very kindly invited us to his hometown – a small, remote town high in the mountains on the Tibetan plateau – so we gave him a call. He'd told us he could arrange for us to spend time at a Tibetan monestary near his home.What followed is sure to be one of the most special memories of our trip. We spent a night with the monks 4000m up near the Yellow River. We learnt about their largely isolated lives and observed their rituals. These included waking up at 5am to chant prayers, playing drums and horns and visiting a local family who had recently suffered a bereavement.Due to some sensitive political issues that we discussed with the monks, we have agreed not to reveal their identities or location so we’ve been limited in the pictures we have been able to use. Sorry about this but we hope you’re imaginations can fill in the gaps.
