SICHUAN PROVINCE 四川省 8
23 April 2005 Langmusi 郎木寺
A Saturday. We took a gravel road south to a pass at about 3,800 metres elevation. There were rosefinches with identifications to discuss, many more Hume’s Ground Tits, Brown Accentor and the sight of Tibetans on motorcycles heading into town.
Vroom, vroom
Street traders, Langmusi
Black (Cinereous) Vultures flew overhead, along with Himalayan Griffons and Upland Buzzards. Tibetan “Sky Burials” are practised at Langmusi, and this obviously sustains a good raptor population.
Back in town Jemi asked some Tibetan girls if she could take their photo and they (together with the mother of one of them as chaperone) agreed. Saturday morning seems to be the time of the week when the local young men and women parade in the main street in their finery, studiously ignoring each other.
Our visit coincided with the 14th day of the Lunar Month, which meant that the “Yellow Hat Sect” monks nearby were engaged in frequent debating sessions on the front steps of the monastery. It was very colourful.
Wallcreeper, Langmusi
Monks, Langmusi
Debating Monks, Langmusi
In the late afternoon we followed a stream into a gully where we photographed Wallcreepers and White-capped River Chat. (Blue Eared Pheasant has also been seen here, according to a photo posted on a chinese website). Dinner at Leisha’s and chatted to members of an Australian/US “Intrepid” tour group. We were reluctant to leave Langmusi, but felt we had to press on.
