Set. 14 - Lama Temple

I woke up that morning to an interesting realization; I had no commitments, or anything necessary in particular to accomplish that day. So, I quickly figured, why not use this free day for a little bit of exploring? And so, after coming across a friend who also wasn’t doing anything, together we headed off on the subway to the famous Lama Temple, designated the royal temple of Tibetan Buddhism during the Qing dynasty, and the largest of its kind in the whole city. 

To get there, we took the cheap route by subway to Yong He Gong , literally “Lama Temple Station.” Upon our arrival, we scrambled to the surface, looked around … and saw that there was no temple to be found. At least, that’s the way it was until we turned around and saw the massive old red walls towering behind the subway entrance. Thus, we learned that they didn’t give that subway station its name for nothing, as it’s literally located directly under the temple complex.

Shortly afterwards, we made our way to the front gate, paid the entrance few, and swiftly realized that the massive temple was absolutely jam-packed with crowds upon crowds of people. At first, I thought with dismay “Oh, peachy, tourists galore,” and remembered that it was a holiday that day. However, just moments later, I saw most of the tourists weren’t clicking away madly with their cameras, but rather waving sticks of burning incense high above their heads. 

They weren’t tourists at all, but instead throngs upon throngs of worshippers crowding in the Lama Temple to celebrate the special occasion. Oh, what a grand sight it was, with so many showing such genuine and intense reverence for the Buddhist idols everywhere. It honestly was like nothing I had seen in China, nor even actually expected to see. Yet I couldn’t deny what I saw … people not visiting the temple for the sake of viewing a tourist site, but rather using the complex for its intended purpose. Being the dork I am about these kinds of things, I found it all to be simply awe-inspiring.   

There was a huge crowd gathered around this, all trying to hurl coins into it for luck, I assume.

The jewel of the entire temple complex - a 55 ft. tall Buddha statue, carved entirely out of a single piece of sandalwood. 

Some type of....well, I don't know, to be honest. Perhaps some type of guardian animal, I guess. But just note all the offerings that have been stuffed into its mouth.

Buddhist prayer flags, which are supposed to bestow the blessings written on them upon all those downwind of them

Unfortunately, the visit apparently didn’t personally bring me too much luck, as I learned later that day. While shopping in the nearby convenience store just a few yards away from my dorm, I was comparing the water bottles there to one I had purchased at another store on campus … and I mean, literally just purchased, for it was still in its original wrapping. Needless to say, that wasn’t the smartest of decisions on my part, for when I put my own water bottle back in my back, a store clerk rightfully thought that I was… well, up to no good. When she took me aside, unfortunately I couldn’t explain what was really going on for the life of myself.

All wasn’t lost though, for thankfully, a UIBE student who knew fairly good English stepped in and helped clear up the matter. With my name cleared, I thanked the anonymous Samaritan, apologized fervently to the store workers, and promptly left as fast as I could. Feeling embarrassed beyond description, I retreated to my room in Building #6 (the International Students Dorm)….and I promptly returned to the store ten or so minutes later to finish my shopping to show everyone there I was no thief, but rather just a total imbecile who made a mistake.

It seemed to work when I paid for my purchases like an honest shopper would … but to my dismay, a moment later I realized that I really did almost intentionally become a thief by nearly walking out with some yogurt that wasn’t paid for. Fortunately, this wasn’t my fault, but a mistake of the cashier, who realized she didn’t scan that particular item only when I was about to leave. And so, the matter was quickly settled as we both laughed in embarrassment.

So, such was how my “Clueless Foreigner Moment of the Day” went, and I’m happy to say that there have been no long-lasting repercussions, or at least I think so. All I know is that whenever I go in there, no one gives me so much as a second look, which I’ll take any day over a suspicious stare.