No trip to western china would be complete without seeing a Tibetan temple. Tibetan monks, or as they call them "Lamas" daily walk through these long halls spinning these large cylinders that have prayers and names on them as part of their religious practice.

The particular area in Aba has a massive temple that had many monks in it. These corridors line the outside of the temple and at the end there is a larger cylinder inside a separate room that is spun twice then on to the next corridor.

In this temple I had an interesting experience. Normally taking photos within the temple or for "common people" to enter the center is forbidden, but the old man you see in front of you came out and talked to me, after he learned that I was from Seattle he told me the story of the Lama Nawang Kunga Tegchen Chakyl Nyima who also was from Seattle and insisted that I come with him to the temples inner area to participate in a prayer. This preferential treatment apparently is extremely rare. Anyway I participated in the activities which included getting down on my stomach and praying to a sacred relic, spinning a piece of colorful cloth on a wooden pole, and walking the entire length of all the corridors while spinning the cylinders.

Now before you ask how did I get a photo if it is forbidden, the Lama gave me permission to photograph what I wished except for the inner prayer area or the relic. I got many photos of the colorful and stunning wooden panels on the inside of the temple and was quite happy with the over all experience.

Canon 30V, Canon 28mm-135mm IS lens on Fuji 100 film.

PS. No "free tibet" slogans please.