"Fifteen Yuan," said the young monk guarding the gate, a thick pad of cash in his hand.

"Since when did you start charging money? Last time I was here, everything was free, the debate, the monasteries..." I put on my best smile. The boy monk took his job a bit too seriously.

"Read the sign," he said with a stone face, pointing to the tree in the yard. "If you take photo in this the debatine courtyard. you should pay fifteen Yuan please." The sign was high on an old tree. I smiled again as I suppressed my urge to point out the grammar and spelling mistakes in the sign, and started to explain that I was invited by an older monk, a friend I had made in the temple an hour ago. READ MORE...

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