Yaks

Peter:

Yaks are everywhere in Tibet. Driving into Lhasa you pass a huge golden statue of 2 yaks. I've already had yak curry, stir fried yak with peppers, yak and onions, yak dumplings, and last night yak cheese on a pizza. Quite tasty meat - best described as gamey beef? There is also the famous yak butter tea which I've yet to sample. We've spent the last 2 days visiting monasteries (more later) where everything is lit by yak butter lamps. Pilgrims carry in thermos bottles filled with purified yak butter to top up the candles. Keeping the candles burning with pure butter is good for your next life apparently. After 4 monasteries the yak butter and the incense is really grabbing teh back of my throat - quite acrid. Then today we almost had a couple of nasty spills coming down steps at the Sera monastery where someone had spilled yak butter. Slippery stuff. Not only can you eat of the yak, use it to light your path both now and in the next life, but of course you can also wear it. Yak wool sweaters, jackets, and other textiles like rugs and blankets. You'll never want if you've got a yak.