To underscore my comment about the contrast of the imagery above, I've just posted a photo I took standing almost exactly in that same spot here: Shadows Over Shangri La

Also, photos of Drepung and Sera during more peaceful times on Flickr...

This is so sad. The images of burning cars in front of the Jokhang temple are in such stark contrast to the tangible, overwhelming feeling of peacefulness I felt standing in that same spot last fall. The foreshadowing of ominous clouds looming overhead in that photo also stands in opposition to the bright sunny days I remember there. The only smoke seen rising over Barkhor Square should be coming from the huge incense burners out in front of the temple...

I was in Tibet last October for a few weeks, visiting both Drepung and Sera monasteries during the course of the trip. We had a local Tibetan guide and I also talked to a few monks... Of course this is only anecdotal, but the feeling I got was that all the Tibetans we came across were just trying to thrive as much as possible within the current situation, and that it wasn't this kind of outright oppression of speech that was threatening them, but rather the Han Chinese immigration that is flooding Tibet and diluting their unique culture.

I am also curious about this... while there we learned that many (most?) of the monks at these monasteries (a mere fraction of the number that used to live there) are selected by and (supposedly) faithful to the Chinese government. Our guide who felt free to discuss the political situation with us outside of the monasteries told us she had to be careful when monks were around because she did not know who could be trusted. I certainly never saw anything to indicate what Motisbeard is talking about above. But the political motivations of these groups can be confusing and situational.

excellent use of a clarinet... too bad it looks like it's plastic instead of wood. you could use all sorts of instruments to get that bell shaped barrel look. tuba bazooka! (trombone would probably work better but it doesn't rhyme)

In preparation for the Olympics the Chinese proudly booted Starbucks and that cafe is fully owned/operated by the museum. I visited just a few weeks after Cory (bought a snack in that very shop!) and there are several funny signs in and around the Forbidden City... some are just funny mistranslations (hastily prepared for the Olympics perhaps? probably just hastily prepared...), others are plain funny without translation.

Don't let blobs take over your city, do laundry, or let chickens play in puddles: http://flickr.com/photos/autarken/2093295151/

Go here if you get too "tickt": http://flickr.com/photos/autarken/2093366583/

Keep your valuables in the "head stage": http://flickr.com/photos/autarken/2093067977/

This took me right back to India... I was just there for Diwali which is when all these fireworks are for sale, and I bought and exploded my fair share of Cock! "Buy the Best COCK" as their advertising says.

http://roam.autarken.net/2008/01/07/cock-fireworks-in-india/