Fixing up the Gompa

[Manfred M]

The Matho Gompa had a couple of workmen installing some new flooring when we visited this monastery.

1. We saw a total of three people while visiting the monastery; two workmen and a monk. All three are in this shot.





2. The workmen were obviously not used to seeing visitors and would watch us as we moved around shooting.





3. The worker is still keeping his eye on me





4. Small hand power tools were used for some of the work...

[Wavelength]

Very nice images; i had visited Khushi Nagar , near Bailakuppa, Karnataka, South India. It was a village given to Tibetan community, at the time of Chinese invasion over there. It is their village; a wonderful place; they maintain all their shrines so so colorful as seen here.....

[Shadowman]

Nice series, good example of how our presence as photographer's alters or affects the moment in time; without their acknowledgment of your presence the workers would have been at that moment doing something entirely different.

[NorthernFocus]

You must have really looked like a shady character. Maybe it was the camera bag. Afraid you were going to make off with some loot

[madcrow]

Not used to visitors, more then likely viewing you with suspicion and I wonder why. Fantastic series and lots of thanks for sharing.

[Dave A]

Another wonderful series with interesting commentary.

Dave

[Manfred M]

Thanks for the comments.

I suspect the real reason for the suspicious looks is the time of year we were visiting. Ladakh is a very popular tourist destination in the summer with many dozens of hotels and guest houses being open to visitors to this very stunning part of the world. After the summer this place shuts right down, No guesthouses are open at this time of year and only four hotels are open for business. Most of the shops and restaurants are closed and the owners are elsewhere.

During the winter there are a few photographers and a few trekkers around, so when visitors show up any place at all, especially outside of the town of Leh, they are quite the exception and that does result in curiosity from the locals.