Yesterday I arrived safely in Lhasa. Big city with comfortable rooms. Really nice to have a decent toilet after the adventure of the last days in East Tibet…
Our first aim of the journey was the oracle lake Lamo La Tso. La means ‘life spirit’ and in this context it means the spirit of Tibet itself. This lake is known as oracle lake because the lama’s visit it to have visions. When the former Dalai Lama died, it is at this lake that the regent had a vision of the monastery close by the birthplace of the 13th Dalai Lama.
The lake is difficult to reach, located far away from the main roads high in the mountains. Even for our guide it was the first time she visited it and she was really excited. She told me that it is better not to talk when seeing the lake. Then you can see your own future. The lake tells you if and with whom you will marry, if you will be rich etc. I am skeptical about these believes but I decided to give it a try.
Reaching the lake is already a pilgrimage in itself. First we drove to Tsedang and then on to Gyatsa. This is a small town, the closest to the lake. Here we slept in a guest house. The accommodations are very basic. Toilets are nothing else as a hole in the ground and they were really dirty. No shower or streaming water. But no problem, the people are friendly and that reduces the hardship.
From Gyaca we drove to the ridge from where you can see the lake. Our Jeep is very old and the roads are dusty, muddy and bumpy. We drove very slowly because of the bad conditions of the road (and of your Jeep hehe). But the Tibetan scenery is just exciting. Wherever you look, you see pure nature. Sometimes dry, sometimes green. Majestic big rivers changes with little mountain streams. And of course a lot of high mountains.
To reach the lake, we had to climb a ridge. This was rather difficult because of the height (5395m) and the bad weather
conditions (snow). But we managed and the view on top of the ridge was amazing. At one side there was the lake, at the other side a snow peak mountain.
First we were quiet cause we wanted to know our future. And yes I got a name in my mind. Very clearly and repeatedly. The woman who I will marry? Hehe I am curious, cause for the moment she is still in another relationship, with a guy I really like myself. Curious if the oracle is right or wrong. A couple of days later, it becomes clear to me that in the end no Oracle can decide how my future will be. It all depends on the choices I make myself. Of course it is not always easy to get your choices sorted out. Many times our choices change and Ans discovers (in 2008) that an oracle really can be helpful in making the right choice.
Our driver made a fire on top of the ridge. And he throw some little papers with prayers in the air. Their way to pay homage to the lake and to pray for a good future. Krisztina and her mother Eva reached the top as well. It was a very emotional moment for Eva. And Krisztina had initially some breathing problems. But she did not give up and step by step, slowly but steadily she reached the top. Brave woman!
Visiting this lake was an exciting experience. Not only because we had to push our own limits but also because of the beauty of nature.
Posted by Ans 
