April 16, 2004

Butter tea and buddhist whispers

Daocheng, Sichuan Province, China

I spend some time wandering around the outskirts of town today, in the Tibetan quarter. At about 1pm I'm beckoned in to a house for lunch. Sounds good.

I follow the elderly gentleman through his main gate, across the courtyard containing a horse, and in to the house. The bottom floor is a stable with at least a couple of cattle. Hard to say as it's so dark. Up some steep steps and around a corner to the large kitchen where the man's wife prepares lunch in the dim light. I'm ushered to a corner next to the window and offered butter tea, dark bread, and yak cheese. Two cats and a lamb wander around the room.

After a time my host beckons me to follow to another room, a small chapel where pictures of the Dalai Lama are prominent. "Dalai Lama", says the man in a slightly conspiratorial fashion. "Yes. Dalai Lama", I say, immediately clinching our brotherhood. He shows me pictures of his two sons, monks in some far off monastery.

Back to the kitchen and lunch is ready, noodles and some sort of green vegetable, and rice. Very tasty actually. The lady goes back to churning the butter tea whilst I eat.

Lunch finished I prepare to make my leave, asking how much I owe. Six yuan the lady indicates with a hand gesture. I give ten. They were very nice.

Posted by David at April 16, 2004 11:09 PM