Thoughts from the Road in Tibet

I wrote this over a month ago while traveling in Tibet. 

Sitting in a jam packed van heading from Lhasa to Shigatse to eventually visit everest, I have a lot of time to think and reflect on recent weeks. Being in Tibet I realize now more than ever how fortunate I am in life. I'm sure my life could be much better in so many ways, but it could be so much worse. Americans, and many westerner for that matter, have such a grave amount of freedom that we're just so blind to. We grow up with it and it becomes a second nature, something we don't know otherwise about. But being in Tibet and seeing the militarized regime that is there, seeing soldiers with guns and other weapons stationed everywhere, hearing how the people there can not leave their region of the country (and I won't get into politics of china's overtaking of the land but I will say that being here and with Tibetan people has changed my view of the situation.) absorbing all these and other facets that are all around me here has shown me in so many lights how lucky I am. And I am grateful, believe you me. What I now feel that I need to do is find a way to give back to those less free. To help others, strictly because I am able too. 

Tibetan Roads

Some pictures from driving around the roads in Tibet. My camera doesn't really capture he beauty that is all around you. Most of the "fun" of this trip is driving long drives through beautiful, mostly untouched, lands with blue skies and rolling mountains. Pictures can't capture that, sadly.

A monastery atop a hill in the distance.

A checkpoint police office is pushing a car that seems to have broken down. Every so far on the road there are checkpoint to make sure your car is allowed with the people you have and so forth. Heavily regulated.

A common site on the trip. Me peeing on the side of the road.

Sheep's head, or what's left mainly jaw and some head.

Went to a nightclub, tibetan style. Was WEIRD! to say the least, but pretty fun. This was some locals doing traditional dancing on the stage. I joined for a few songs as well but that guy in the black coat was just too good.

horizons...

prayer flags and reststops.

prayer flags at the highest point on the road. I believe this was above 6k meters. yikes!

the long and winding road.... that leads... to everest. I think that's how the Beatles song goes.

I know that guy! Adam or Kaja snuck a photo of me

...remains...

a different side of that monastery on the hill.

Stupa and old castle/fortress/monastery.

prayers and power. power and prayers

Adam looks so unhappy, but we all know he loves it. Lack of oxygen at high altitudes can do strange things to people.

Tashilhunpo

Tashilhunpo Monastery was founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama. Yeah, it's old alright. It's also where the palace for the Panchen Lama is, though currently the Panchen Lama is in Beijing, though most don't consider him the real Panchen Lama. (an interesting article about the current Panchen lama and the drama is here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7053071.ece )

Another Giant Buddha

Dragons adorn the top of the door

A giant stupa and beautiful mandala above on the ceiling. I had to sneak the photo so no flash.

this is why i needed to sneak it. 125yuan is around $20

worshippers ring the bell before entering.

old monk in a walkway

me and the old fellow

me and some young fellows

The Gyeni Chanting Hall

very old prayer wheels

the monastery is surrounded by numerous prayer wheels on the hillsides.

Tashilunpo!

Broken down in Tibet

Well like every good trip through impoverished countries (or territories as this case may be) a break down by the side of the road is bound to happen at least once. We were on our way back from Tashilhunpo Monastery when our van started making horrible sounds and smoke was appearing from the back. We proceeded on, as every good tour leader would do. Only every couple of miles we'd stop, go to the side of the road to grab water (or slimy nasty stuff sometimes) and pour it on the tires. Eventually we came to a shanty town type spot where we stopped to get the car looked at. The fix was not to be too quick so after sitting around for an hour or so we hailed a van back to Everest. The new van was even smaller and less comfortable and we would proceed on for what seemed like the longest drive of the trip yet. Still, we made some fun from it.

The van being "fixed"

Looks like a coke ad. Some of the team, waiting for the van to be fixed or for anything to happen at all.

i try on a locals hat. me likey :) Does my Russian heritage show?

Adam and a local tibetan man drink some chaang

myself and a local getting very casual. the talk of marriage was even in the mix. her "apron" thing means she's married and when i commented on it she jokingly whisked it away to show me that she was free.

true love

and good laughs by all.

Everest!!

Going to Everest was one of the high points about traveling to Tibet. Besides being the worlds highest mountain it also is part of a chain of mountains known as the Himalayas... maybe you've heard of them?

Sadly, it wasn't all fun and games. I got a head cold the day before Everest and that combined with the altitude pressure and general cold caused me to get incredibly sick. I've never felt so poor in my life. I thought my head would explode and death seemed near. Not to ruin any endings, but I did make it through. Though the night slept at the base camp monastery was one of the worst sleeping nights of my life.

Everest in the middle, Lhotse on the right. This range of mountains has some of the worlds highest peaks.

me, tired, cold and lounging in front of the himalayas

hello everest!

It may not look it, but it's pretty cold right here.

Adam and I and the mountain known as Everest

Kaja and me.

some people, just going for a walk :)

Everest over the prayer flags

as we got a little closer. notice the solar panels.

Sun begins to set at the buddhist temple where we'll sleep nearby everest.

Chorta/Stupa at the temple at Everest Base Camp

beautiful sunset skies poorly captured on my iphone.

In the morning I don't feel so good. Altitude sickness may be setting in.

I just look horrible.

near death even.

Sunrise at Everest.

sunrise with the horses

Such a beautiful site to see first thing in the morning.