Because it is the holiest Tibetan Temple many pilgrims do their prayers inside and around this place. They circle the Temple through the surrounding alleys by touching the ground with their full bodylength all the way on their pilgrimage circuit. Very impressive! Inside the Jokhang Temple there is another pilgrimage circuit full of prayer wheels around the center hall. There are alo several storeys and you can walk up to the golden roof, from where you have a nice view over parts of the Barkhor Area all the way to the Potala Palace.

The Sera Monastery is situated just a few kilometers outside the Holy City of Lhasa, the Seat of the Gods. In past days there were more than 5.000 inhabitants which has been reduced to a few hundreds nowadays. But still the huge number of buildings and alleys give the impression of a small city.

But dont think of monasteries as stonage anymore. Ive seen monks with mobile phones and as an entrance ticket you get a CDRom, I couldnt believe it! One of the most interesting things to me were the Debating Classes,taking place everyday in Sera. A big number of monks come together and discuss their philosophical and religious standpoints. Each argument is stressed by clapping with your hands. Most of the times it is a one-on-one, sometimes there are two or even three monks discussing with only one opponent. In the end they reach a uniting conclusion.
Really fascinating!

A must see in Shanghai is certainly the Old Town of Shanghai. And I am not talking about the the new tourist traps built close around the YuYuan Garden, where only strange souvenirs are offered. Skip that and check the narrow alleys surroundung it. Streets with houses not higher than two storeys, no sewer system except the cans in front of the doors in the morning and washed clothes hanging over the streets from one house to another. This is the last part of the true old city. There are no tourist shops but busy Chinese shops, street kitchens and market alleys, where Chinese people shop. Everything is vivid and relaxed at the same time, because there are no cars, no modern progress disturbing the scenery.
But steel and concrete is already at the gates! Skyscrapers are coming closer each time I get to Shanghai.
I hope that even dispite the missing luxury of modern living that some people might miss, some parts get protected like the Hutongs in Beijing.

Take a bike tour around Yangshuo on your own. Bikes are for rent for 10 Kuai a day. And the surrounding Karst Mountains and villages are worth to be explored on your own!
You can also hire a bamboo raft to float down the Jinbao. It is a small branch of the Li River. You can enjoy the magnificent landscape all on your own with a quiet surrounding.
No Helloooo! shouting for tourists at all.