Travel Photo: Buddhist Monk uses an ATM at Chiang Mai, Thailand

I was passing through the roads of Chiang Mai when I watched this interesting sight of a Buddhist monk using an ATM machine. This was one of those ‘surprise’ moments for me as in my head I always thought monks to be begging for alms and serving the monastery.


But, here, the monk seems to be an ATM card, withdraws money and uses it to shop. I know this is true of most of the new generation monks, but it is a still a moment that you find difficult to digest as you have always read and studied about an ascetic set of monks.

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Travel Photo: Buddhist Student at Tawang Gompa

The Tawang Gompa in Western Arunachal Pradesh offers so much to the discerning global traveller. It has rich culture. It is set amidst the mighty Himalayan mountains and thus offers a pretty setting. It has vibrant colours. It offers a rich learning experience both to Buddhists and others. And, you feel at peace in its spiritual perimeter.


As I was walking through the large Tawang Gompa campus, I spotted this young Buddhist monk deeply engrossed in his book.This moment was too difficult for me to pass and hence I captured this learning moment.


In this photo, the Buddhist monk is standing next to a clothes line on the terrace of the monk quarters inside the Tawang Gompa. It was only when I stood there clicking his picture for a long while, did he raise his head. But, he went back to his book after throwing a shy smile at me.

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Buddhist Monk at Tak-Tsang Gompa, Arunachal Pradesh

This Buddhist Monk was the sign of peace, serenity and concentration while he was reading the verses from his holy book. I liked his posture so much that I knew I needed to take a portrait shot, but at the same time did not want to disturb him. Luckily for me, he took a break and that was when I requested for a short photography session and the monk happily obliged.


I spotted this monk sitting just outside the inner sanctum of Tak-Tsang Gompa or locally known as T Gompa. Tak-Tsang Gompa, situated close to Sangetsar Lake and the China Border, is part of the high altitude Himalayan region of Arunachal Pradesh. It is at a distance of about 35 kilometres from Tawang. Though, this temple is small in size, it compensates quite a bit in power and beauty.

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