Liberation Park
As I always like parks I went for the only one I had not yet seen: A park at the back of the Potala Palace by the euphemistic name of “Liberation Park”. As I had written earlier: The Chinese government had moved people from the palace’s front to the back to make room for the Tian’AnMen-like square which now is there, a large tiled empty space. But they also formed a nice Chinese park around a lake, which was left from the actual palace’s construction with the earth used as building material. While China is not loved here they definitely know how to build parks. And it seems the locals have accepted the park. I saw Tibetians sitting in a Chinese-style pavillion within Liberation Park, still turning their prayer wheels, and having a rest inbetween their pilgrimage.
LS_20070626_115908.jpg: Na, did you notice? Yeah…this is not the back, but the front of Potala Palace. But a nice shot I thought I publish, too.
LS_20070626_120858.jpg: Also a nice catch due to the pedicabs, though still the front side.
LS_20070626_121838.jpg: You come across worshippers all over the place certainly.
LS_20070626_123642.jpg: These prayer wheels form a veeeery long line, basically half around the entire foot of the Potala Palace hill on its back side.
LS_20070626_124755.jpg: As said, the park itself is built in Chinese style and you can identify some typical features in this picture. But I focused on Potala Palace, not on Chinese elements.
LS_20070626_125905.jpg: The back of the palace has certain architectural similarities with its front. Even though pictures of its back are rare you will like quickly recognize the palace for what it is.
LS_20070626_152051.jpg: Once more Potala Palace, across the large lake in the park’s east.
Taishi 1 Restaurant
A recommendation of Lonely Planet and yesterday also mentioned by the French, so this place must exists, though I successfully ran past it several times without finding it. Today I tried once more and finally was succesful when looking not at the ground floor, but at the second floor…probably a reminiscence to the original way of building Tibetian 2-storey houses: Ground floor for live stock and kitchen, upper floor for the living quarters. Taishi 1’s entrance was again a small door leading up a stairway to the second floor, then turn right through a curtain, and when you have the feeling that you just entered into a local resident’s flat and want to appologize to the family sitting in the sofa across the etrance, then turn right into the dining room. Very simple interior, but light due to two windows onto the street.
I went for the Yak steak (and a vegetable soup and sweet tea), and its superior taste and softness together with its big size are the reason why I am writing these lines (especially when comparing to Mandala 2), because this is…:
Today’s Lesson: Go for the Yak steak at Taishi 1’s!