Da Tong Ma, due to its distance from any city big or small has been relatively untouched by tourism. Prior to our arrival, you could count the number of foreign visitors on one hand, which several people recounted to us.
The initial impression we made of Da Tong Ma was that it’s a real wild west town. All of the Tibetans carry knives, wear cowboy hats and ride motorbikes or horses.
As foreigners, we’re quite the attraction in the town and every time we go down the main street, a crowd will form around us.
We stay with Tashi’s uncle Asi and spend the days sleeping, eating, playing cards and drinking. We offer to work on several occasions, however as guests, we’re told time and time again that it’s not necessary.
Tashi during one of our evening drinking and cards sessions.
Unlike us lazy foreigners, Tashi has work to do, he drives his truck in a three hour loop fetching rocks for the construction of the monastery. In total there are seven drivers who each drive to the quarry several times a day free of charge.
We join Tashi on a couple of his trips, and part of one of the trips I ride on the roof of his truck, like several Tibetan girls did on the way to Da Tong Ma.
On the last trip of the day, Tashi and I join the crew from the quarry for a dinner at their place, the tent in the above photo.
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Germany
Israel
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have you noticed swastika or sauwastika on your truck?
i saw it @ some temples in taipei and also at some eating places/shops in the center of the city.
Da tong Ma was one of the best times so far on my trip...including now Deqin. So fuckin beautiful. Thanks for the tip!
Have seen the swastika in plenty of places, clockwise and counterclockwise.
Some Tibetan homes also have it with a picture of a fish or some other animal, I'm out of the Tibetan areas now though so can't snap any photos to show.
Deqin is amazing, if you read my blog you'll find a good 5 day trip to do, I'd start by going to Xidang, from there to Yubeng and back (the long way there to avoid paying, plus it's beautiful) and then from there to Minyong, stay at the guesthouse on the top, WOW.
The swastika back to front is the hindu sign for peace. Its a religious symbol. I have a funny story about my friend getting caught up at US customs because she had a wedding invitation with a back to front swastika on it. She was accused of being a Nazi supporter. She was indian.