philip_pj
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zhangyue, I'm glad you like these photos. I'd live my life in Tibet if they would let me, I might see if I can stay a year or so; you can sign up to learn Tibetan and stay in Lhasa. It's the most modern country in the world. The govt pumped $45 billion into the TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region) and so you see high speed rail, motorways, acres of 12 floor apartment blocks, tarred roads everywhere - at 3500-4500m, with very few people, perhaps 8-10 million at present in a region of nearly 2 million sq kms. The monasteries are coming back quickly now, with govt funding.
The people are fabulous. Fun loving and honorable, with amazingly strong belief. And many of the Han Chinese who settle there turn into quasi-Tibetans, so strong is the culture. And they have been neighbors for millennia. Even the Mongols had great respect for the spiritual power of the early monastic leaders, many of whom were charismatics and sorcerers. I've been compiling material since 2004 (go twice most years, total of maybe 40,000 images). I don't even notice the altitude these days. They all treat me like a local because I passed the tourist stage a long time ago. cheers.
In India's share of the Tibetan Cultural World, this 13C gompa at the Siachen Glacier marks the northwestern extent of the Tibetan World. Several lucky monks stay through winter, when it looks like the abode of the mountain gods.
One of me and my gear at 4500m or so, the mountain in the background is Nojin Khangsa 7220m.
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