Tibet is a land of stark, arid beauty, where snowcapped mountains guard sacred turquoise lakes, and centuries-old monasteries are pervaded by the smell of yak-butter lamps, the chanting of mantras by monk is saffron robes, and the prostrations of the pious. Throughout the country, faded, wind-torn prayer flags flutter from the roofs whitewashed brick-and-mud homes. While the Chinese occupation remains an intrinsic and oppressive part of everyday life, the unwavering faith of the Tibetans gives them strength to protect their culture and heritage.
May, June September and October
Cleaning away all the sins of your lifeftime by walking the circuit of Mt Kailash Gazing up at the Potala, an architectural masterpiece and structural centerpiece of Lhasa Spending a low-oxygen night at Rongphu Monastery, the world’s highest monastery Views from high mountain passes that are literally and figuratively breathtaking Bumping along the Friendship Highway, which, despite its name, is not hospitable or fast Witnessing raucous monastic debates-despite occasional looks of terror, the monks generally seem to enjoy them
Read MARY Craig’s Tears of Blood: A Cry for Tibet, a riveting account of Tibet since the Chinese takeover: or Heinrich Harrer’s Years in Tibet, an engaging account of Harrer’s sojourn in Tibet during the mid-20th century
Listen to Cho, by Choying Drolma-Steve Tibets, a stunning introduction to Tibetan religious music; or Freedom Chants from the Roof of the World by the Gyuto Monks
Watch Himalaya, directed by Eric Valli, an epic srory of Tibetan herdes, with an all-Tibetan cast spectacular cinematography; Kundun, directed by Martin Scorsese,
beautifully chronicles the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama until his exile from Tibet
Eat tsampa, a doung of roasted-barlry flour and yak butter mixed with water, tea or beer; moms are small dumplings filled with meat or vegetables
Drink yak-butter tea-drink it hot, because it’s even worse cold; or chang, a fermented barley beer
Tashi delek! ( in Tibetan, used as a greeting, literally ‘good fortune’)
Pious pilgrims and saffron-clad monks; spiritual home of the Dalai Lama; Chinese occupation; yak meat and momos; Han immigration; high altitude and low oxygen; sky burials
Tibetans stick their tongues out to show respect; thumbs up is a sign of begging
Buddhism permeates most facets of Tibetan daily life and shapes the aspirations of Tibetans in ways that are often quite alien to the Western frame of mind. The idea of accumulating merit, of sending sons to be monks, of undertaking pilgrimages, of devotion to the sanctity and power of natural places are all elements of the unique fusion between Buddhism and the older shamanistic Bon faith.