
yesterday, i went to the place of happening: the old town hall of Plochingen city, which comes with a historic town centre full of "Fachwerkhäuser" - classic wood-structure houses. the day was overcast, and it all felt a bit surreal. i first wasn't sure if i got the right building. then i saw the prayer flags (which seem to be a returning theme of this week.)

and so i entered. and was amazed. and stood there, watching. then i found the perfect spot, to sit, and see, without disturbing: the wooden stairway of the town hall.
which fitted into the whole mix of styles and structures: wooden pillars and stone floors. and in the middle: the tibetan sand mandala. (if you look at the shelf behind the monks, you see a gathering of what i first thought were candles. it's sand pots. will try to catch a close-up the next time i am there.)
and here.. a close-up i took yesterday.

click the picture to see the larger version. (and a bit about the process: the sand is applied with the help of those wooden tubes, which are vibrated to make the sand flow (like tiny sand violins - you see that detail on the right side when you look closely). another bit: the monks wear respirators to prevent that sand might shift through their breath when they lean in close for detail structures.)
and here, via wikipedia, a bit more about sand mandalas.
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