Lama Temple was an active place of worship, not just a tourist attraction. The air was sweet with incense. The building was every bit as rich in its ornamentation as the imperial structures of the Forbidden City.
At first I felt a little uncomfortable in this setting for an unknown religion--like an intruder in a very private place. But it turned out that the temple really wasn't very private at all. The monks and the worshippers didn't seem to mind a bit when tour groups dropped in.