Inside a prayer flag tent. Prayer flags are rectangular or square pieces of cloth, rainbow colored, often with mantras printed on them. Tibetans believe that the prayers will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion to all. Commonly hung in high places to carry the blessings to the heavens and round the world. The colors represent the different elements: blue for sky, red for fire, green for water, yellow for earth, and white for air. There are variations of prayer flags, such as these on the road to Sershu Monastery. Here you see orange and pink, instead of yellow and white.