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I spent an entire day with these monks, my eyes were infected, their temple is famous for curing eyes. They gave me some soothing medicine, and bought me dinner. The younger monk has said something he enjoys too much, but the older one sees no humor in it! Since I cannot speak Tibetan, I cannot let you in on the joke, (or anything they said). What is no joke is the Chinese domination over Tibet. The Chinese simply announced they owned Tibet, invaded and have made life hell for over 50 years. These are two of the 120 monks in Joklang Temple across the square from this roof top restaurant. Before Chinese occupation, 6000 monks lived there. The monastery is over 2000 years old. It was a center of education till closed by the Chinese. It has been opened only a few years again. If Tibetans want to go inside, they must pay the same $15 as the foreign tourists. They are removed when tour buses arrive. Right now, in Tibet there are demonstrations against the Chinese. The Tibetans have no army, no weapons, only faith in prayer. The monks are tortured and killed during any uprising. I just love these guys, they were so happy, and brave, to even be a monk in their own country. They never know who is a genuine monk and who is a Chinese spy.