The traditional Tibetan boat for ferrying of fishing is an oval-shaped coracle made of willow branches and yak hide. It is virtually unsinkable and can be carried upstream on the back of one strong man. A coracle ride on the Yarlong Tsangpo River north of Shigatse, through a beautiful stretch known as the Dongkar Valley, is an experience full of freshness and excitement. Thirty-three kilometers ( 20 miles) from Shigatse, near the river, lies Dongka Monastery, where barley is milled for the vast appetite of Tashilhunpo's 800 monks.