The two photos show an old street in the vicinity of Palkhor Monastery. It's a good place for one to capture the local life of the residents. The street is long and comfortably wide, and is paved with flagstones and clay. Houses stand on both sides of the street, one and two storey, built in the local architectural style and decorated with snow-white walls and vermeil door and beams.

Walking along the street, one might see children playing together and fowl scrabbling around the houses. Carriages are the most common everyday mode of transportation for the local residents, although a bicycle supplements them sometimes. One seldom catches sight of a car or lorry driving through the street. Hence, the air here is excellent, unlike other urban areas that are heavily polluted. Visitors here will see a harmonious life between human beings and animals, and between mankind and nature.

   Gyangtse Old Street, Tibet

The local residents are very hospitable and love to warmly welcome guests both local and foreign to have a rest in their homes. Visitors are likely to be served with regional food and drink while being told about the local places of interest. They will also hear moving stories about what happened in the area long ago, and stories about their hosts' families. Not surprising then, that visitors often wish to be guided by the residents for the rest of their trip if they could speak the same language!

Some of the houses that front on the main street are self-operated stores, and sell many varieties of local products. One will find old-styled jewelry made from different local materials, religious items, unique Tibetan knives, old used coins, snuff kettles, and an interesting variety of local gadgets. Each item is completely hand-made and reveals the rich Tibetan flavor that has been passed down through generations for many centuries.