Tea and lunch for the festival are made on the premises. I spent this morning in the indoor kitchen where the teas (butter and sweet) are made in huge cauldrons and then dispatched out in big kettles to be served to the monks, nuns and attendees. Everyone brings their own cups. The older monks and nuns carry teacups and the classic wood cups (like small bowls), and the younger ones like the thermos style mugs (in red of course). If you’re like me and don’t have a cup, you’re given a condensed milk can.
I love to photograph in these dark, primitive gompa kitchens. The head tea maker monk here is very easygoing and approves of my pictures (one of the benefits of shooting digitally). The kitchen goes from being empty to out-of-control busy and back to empty again throughout the day. Lunch is prepared outdoors in equally huge cauldrons with rice, lentils, vegetables, salad, etc. People must think I’m crazy for taking so many pictures in this kitchen, but these are the kinds of images I’m looking for and are some of my favorites so far.
