Lhasa - Pabonka to Sera Monastery

Pabonka Monastery on a hillside not far past Sera Monastery	Lonely Planet recommended the one hour walk between Pabonka and Sera	After much arguing with the inflexable guide (not reasonable with a group of 1) and many phone calls she agreed	Given that there's a nice view of north side of Potola Palace from Pabonka, I did not consider it far out of the way
Paintings and gold inscriptions, Rigsum Gonpo Temple, Pabonka Monastery	11-headed Chenresig, Rigsum Gonpo Temple, Pabonka Monastery	Yab-yum "father-mother" associated with Tantric Buddhism	Famous carved mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" of Rigsum Gonpo Temple, Pabonka Monastery
Pabonka Potrang built on top of Pabonka Rock	Pabonka Potrang built on top of Pabonka Rock	Palden Lhamo Cave in the side of Pabonka Rock	Palden Lhamo Cave, Pabonka Monastery
Green Tara, Palden Lhamo Cave	Palden Lhamo Cave, Pabonka Monastery	Entrance to the Pabonka Potrang on top of Pabonka Rock	Wall mural "Mongol leading the tiger" representing supremacy of the Gelugpa sect over their rival red hat sect
"Four Friends" elephant, monkey, hare and partridge from Tittira Jataka legend	Jasa Podrang (Temple of Princess Wencheng) with the remains of 108 chortens	Pabonka Monastery	Monk of Pabonka Monastery
Kitchen, Pabonka Monastery	Dining hall, Pabonka Monastery	Pabonka Monastery	Pabonka Monastery
Fresh October snow on the mountains above Lhasa	Stupa at Pabonka Monastery	The Potola Palace in the center of Lhasa 7 km to the south of Pabonka	Pabonka Monastery
Hermitage of Tashi Chöling, a 20 min climb from Pabonka	Trail leading around the mountain to Chupsang Nunnery	I told the guide she could go with the driver and meet me in one hour at Sera Monastery	Looking back to Pabonka from the Chupsang trail
Pabonka Monastery	Looking down at the newly paved road leading up to Pabonka Monastery	I didn't find the trail particularly difficult	...but shockingly the Tibetan guide was unable to handle it and eventually turned back leaving me on my own
Trail from Pabonka Monastery to Chupsang Nunnery	Well-worn carved steps between the monastery and the nunnery	Chupsang Nunnery, home to around 80 nuns	Trailside shrine near Chupsang Nunnery
Chupsang Nunnery	Chupsang Nunnery	Chupsang Nunnery	Chupsang Nunnery
Not wanting to be late to meet the guide at Sera, I didn't linger at Chupsang	Shrine with rock paintings, Chupsang Nunnery	Rock paintings, Chupsang Nunnery	Rock paintings, Chupsang Nunnery
Leaving Chupsang Nunnery for Sera Monastery	Leaving Chupsang Nunnery for Sera...but this trail lead back to the valley, not over the mountain like I had hoped	Descending to the outskirts of Lhasa	...that's the way I had wanted to go...but too late now
I had to skirt a walled off military area	The correct "high road" trail to Sera is somewhere up there	Arriving at Sera Monatery by the "low road" after a nice 1 hour hike from Pabonka	The only shanties I had seen in Tibet, outside Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery	Outlying building of Sera Monastery still a burned out ruin from the bad days	Sera Monastery, one of the Six Great Gelugpa institutions	The Chöding Hermitage above Sera Monastery that I had been planning to hike past
Map of Sera Monastery	The guide had been insisting that Sera was closed mid day so it was almost 4 when we got there	...and just as the Lonely Planet said, the main chapels were already closing	Incense burners, Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery	Sera Monastery	We managed to get into Sera Je College for about 5 minutes before it closed	Wall mural, Sera Je College
Tamdrin (Hayagriva) the horse-headed wrathful deity	TibetOct08 973.jpg	TibetOct08 974.jpg	Rock painting, Sera Monastery
Staircase behind Sera Je College	Rock paintings, Sera Monastery	Jampelyang (Manjushri) Bodhisattva of Wisdom	Chenresig (Avalokiteshvara) Bodhisattva of Compassion
Chana Dorje (Vajrapani) wrathful Bodhisattva of Energy	Gesture of teaching - Vitarka Mudra	TibetOct08 987.jpg	TibetOct08 990.jpg
Thangka wall, Sera Monastery	Wall used to hang giant Thangka paintings during festivals	Main assembly hall, Sera Monastery	Vestibule of the main assembly hall at Sera
Guardian king in front of the Main Assemby Hall, Sera	Ceiling of the vestibule in front of the Main Assembly Hall	Sera Monastery	Rock paintings in a small cave, Sera Monastery
Cave painting, Sera Monastery	Tibetan pilgrim with a prayer wheel	Sera Monastery	Sera Monastery
The guide managed to get us into one small chapel after closing	TibetOct08 1006.jpg	TibetOct08 1007.jpg	The Wheel of Life, Sera Monastery
The Wheel of Life - you want to stay in the top half	Chenmizang, Heavenly King of the West (red)	Yülkhorsung, Heavenly King of the North (yellow)	Mongol leading the chained tiger - Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect symbology
Sera Monastery	Ornate door, Sera