Even informed guides say this old Tibetan monastery 'is Chinese in style'. It was actually built out in the 1300s with Yuan (Mongol) money to support an ally, one of the early Buddhist orders (the Sakyapa). The Mongols became 'turkified' in Central Asia and one of their descendants ended up founding the Mughal Empire in India.
Tholing (modern town is Zanda), the end of the earth seemingly, but a very relaxed place. It was founded after the Tibetan civil war in the 9th century. Tibetan Buddhism began its second phase here, they got lucky before Islamic forces overran North India in 1200 and (along with the Brahmins) finished Buddhism in its native country. The Greeks of Gandhara and Bactria ensured the faith would survive in East Asia, it spread along the Silk Route. China has 244 million Buddhists, thanks to them.
Last night and all day we had overcast, drizzling ever so often.
That kept the air and ground pretty wet and temperatures low.
Towards evening the Sun showed up and gave quite a performance.
I confirmed that yesterday's layer of clouds/fog
was situated somewhere between the
White Rock Rio Grande River Canyon
and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
It was definitely not over the Rio Grande itself.
A similar layer of clouds/fog could also yesterday be seen towards the Jemez Mountains.
Following are images I shot in the evening today.
This first one, looking eastwards
shows the fog layer in front of the Sangre de Cristos.
The Rio Grande River Canyon is located right behind the foreground houses.
Now looking westwards from a different location
we see the low fog layer in front of the Jemez Mountains.
A bit later another view westwards towards the Jemez.
Again a bit later and after a short hike another view towards the Sangre de Cristos.
And after hiking back a final evening view towards the Jemez in the West.
All images taken with Sony ILCE-7RM2 + FE 35mm F1.4 GM.
I will also post this in the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Image Thread
but will replace these 3x2 images with 3840x1600 ones to fit a corresponding wide format screen.
