Debating monks & a different world

Day #34-36
We are up early to catch the debate. The monks gather in their gompa at 5am to pray. At 6am until 7:45am, they take turns debating with one another. When they make a point, they clap their hands loudly; when the other fails with his rebuttal, laughter is the protocol. It seems rather harsh at first, but it is all in good nature. While I can not understand, I am well entertained.

Once again our racks have broken, but our friend Setim take us to the master welder who does a superiour job in fixing our babies for the price of 2yuan, (12 U.S. cents).

We descend into a different world. In a short time we drop 1000m into the steep valley of Tongren. The yak and nomads give way to donkeys carrying bushels of wheat. And just as quickly as it came, it leaves: the following day we regain our altitude, the wheat fields disappear, and the mountains grow greener. 1300m later we are at 3800m with our rain coats tightly zipped shivering on the other side of the mountain-pass.