11.12.19 Shangrila

Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Trail
Xianggelila
The monastery complex included, under its protection, two Tibetan villages (one with our hotel), and Lake Lamuyangcuo, around which we strolled. The tea horse traders would stop at these sacred trees to pray for auspicious journeys. We climbed Sacred Dongqesheng Hill, on top of which were a stupa and hundreds of prayer flags, the tinkling of cow bells below and a long view of the monastery complex. We sent out our love to family and friends with the fluttering of the flags. Could you feel it?
We had seen empty versions of these 30 foot+ structures, seemingly randomly placed in fields and besides homes, and eventually discovered that they are for drying barley, grasses and wheat at a height not tempting to the yaks.
The homes in the villages included expanses of panes glass and beautifully carved and painted doorways. The shot of multiple dwellings is of the homes for the monks.
We walked through Conqulong village as the cows/yakswere walking themselves from the hills back to their barns under the homes.
There were many reminders to protect our earth as a sacred place.