Looks like being a big afternoon for the Dalai Lama.

”Bendigo to put Dalai Lama in a stupa” reports ABC news online, making the most of an irresistible wordplay opportunity.

”The Dalai Lama will make his first trip to Bendigo this afternoon as part of a 10-day tour of Australia.”

We guess he’s grateful he’s not making his first trip to Geelong. Or Dubbo. Things could be worse. Maybe he’s keeping Wonthaggi for his next incarnation.

“He will then be taken through an Aboriginal smoking ceremony which will be conducted by the local Aboriginal people, then he enters the great stupa a little bit later on.” 

Oh yeah. We get it. Smoking. Stupa. Nice work.

“He will also be officially welcomed with monks with their long horns and so forth in a traditional Tibetan style.”

Oh, good grief.