Scent of Tibet - A Journey of Three Kangba Men and One Amdo Woman

Author: Mei Zhuo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The Transmission of Bon Religion in Jiarong
The next day, Tashi Dorje stayed behind to discuss matters with the troupe's actors, while Yuan Jianzhuo and I went into Jiuzhaigou. As soon as we stepped out, we encountered a grand procession for a living Buddha's enthronement ceremony and quickly followed it to the toll booth leading from Chuanshuzi to Songpan, taking some photos along the way. Gama, a friend of Senge's, was waiting for us at the entrance of the valley. He is an employee of the management station and also a singer. He pointed out the route into the scenic area, and after thanking him, we went in on our own.
Jiuzhaigou has already become a well-organized tourist destination with a healthy ecological environment. The sightseeing buses took us to many famous attractions. It was already October, yet there were still crowds of tourists swarming in. We nearly spent the entire time walking through the spots in a sea of people, but thankfully, the tourists today are well-mannered and will automatically step aside to let others take photos. Jiuzhaigou is famous for its water, and indeed, the water in the waterfalls and lakes is crystal clear, so green and so blue, with free-spirited fish and ancient trees that have stood for millennia.
Unfortunately, the Bon monastery of Zaru didn’t open until the afternoon, and the guide said there wasn’t much to see there anyway. We had no choice but to head back. After leaving Jiuzhaigou, we stopped at Daji Temple at the entrance. Daji Temple is another Bon monastery. We chatted with a monk, who introduced himself as Nobu Tsairin. He had been ordained at the age of 15 and had been a monk for 10 years so far. He was tidying up a plastic bucket, his hands black from the dirt. Upon hearing that we were from Qinghai, he eagerly introduced himself and shared details about the temple.