It is Sunday and as long as we ignore the Pope in Ireland and all the unsavoury business the Catholic church has been up to it is a good quiet day.
My mind has drifted back to Eskdalemuir, to green mysterious deep woods and forests and about wedding cake stupas? at the Tibetan Monastery. This is where we stayed a couple of wooden cabins in someone's garden, decorated in Tibetan colours, in a village that has slowly run into a quiet ruin. But the Scottish government/charity has funded a cafe/gallery in the old primary school, a breath of sunshine in the cool greyness of the village.
The monastic Tibetan buildings were quite magnificent in the sense of build, not sure I agree with such pomp in the middle of nowhere, but then who am I to complain. It had an exciting shop full of those things you expect in an ethnic atmosphere, I bought incense back to scent the house, a book on 'calmness' mmm, and a shawl for Vicky across the road.
It was a 15 miles drive for either a pub or fish and chips, rather remote and of course a local supermarket stuck on the end of a housing estate. Scotland is a new experience. What I forgot to take a photo of is the river that flows below this picture, it flows by the two stone circles up the road, probably the reason there is prehistory round in this flat part.
Funnily enough Lucy enjoyed this holiday, she loves travelling in the car, and seeing things, she is very curious and would be off in other people's gardens if allowed to.
Driving back in the car on Friday from Malton Paul had said how he never would have imagined living in the countryside and enjoying it.
What a pretty area. Very strange to see a Tibetan Monestery out in the middle of nowhere. (I looked it up on Google Maps and it looks amazing.)
ReplyDeleteYes it is a pretty amazing place. I went into the temple by myself, all gold and paintings and someone sitting in the high chair and meditating. Thought he was a very good wax model, but he was real and so still, thank goodness I did not go to poke him to find out. There are buildings of dormitories as well should you wish to stay.
DeleteI only know of this place because somebody posted about it on Facebook recently. Certainly not what you might typically expect to find. Looks glorious.
ReplyDeleteArilx
Scotland is beautiful, and no midges until the last day, which I believe is one of the draw backs of Scotland. I was quite nervous of taking photographs of the place, though I go into English churches and photo without a second thought.
DeleteSounds as though Paul has well and truly settled then. Hope you have too.
ReplyDeleteYes I think we have both happily settled Pat.
ReplyDelete