It’s been about two months since I left the Himalayas and
between one thing and the other I never found the time to sum up my travels
through the beautiful land of Tibet, so here it goes:
After 9 days in Kyrgyzstan, Wilson and I embarked on our
dream adventure of travelling through Tibet all the way from Lhasa to
Kathmandu, Nepal. Arriving to Lhasa definitely surfaced all of those childhood
dreams of one day walking among monks in the fabled holy city of Lhasa. A faraway
Himalayan land mystical and mysterious with tales that date back to the 7th
century. Chanting monks and smoky billows of incense filling its air. The
nostalgic views of wide blue skies and high snowy mountains framing the walls
of this beautiful plateau—it was a dream come true to say the least.
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| The city of Lhasa |
Lhasa HAD that feel, as if time stood still and old traditions
never left the mind of its people. Its streets, still bared the resemblance of
hundreds of years ago. It was particularly breathtaking when entering the city
and noticing from the distance the massive presence of the Potala Palace—the home
of the Dalai Lama and the epicenter of sanctity for Buddhism. I was really
thankful when our Tibetan guide (mandatory for all foreigners) dropped us off at
one of the very few hostels you can find in the old village. In essence, after
the Chinese occupation, Lhasa was divided into two cities—the old and the new
one. The old, where all Tibetans still reside to this day, was kept untouched, while
the remainder of Lhasa was transformed into an emerging Chinese city.
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| Potala Palace |
I debated for a while after leaving Lhasa, what my true
feelings were surrounding my experience in Tibet. Given the current political
climate, Tibet was sort of a bittersweet experience for me. On the one hand,
the Tibetan people, their traditions, and religious devotion make you feel as
if you are immersed in a world of pure spirituality and peace. On the other
hand, you are a silent observer of persecution and oppression, of a culture
once so free and beautiful; it makes you wonder, what happened to justice, to
faith, to honoring the good and condemning the bad. I tried shaking off all
negative thoughts, but it was particularly hard when constantly noticing that permit
checkpoints and metal detectors were present everywhere in the streets. That Tibetans,
as well as monks, rarely exchange a word or two with foreigners, for police
patrols closely control what they say and do. That the air, as well as the
walls, are always filled with political propaganda. A real nuisance to say the least.
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| Along the Friendship Hwy |
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| Tibetan prayer flags |
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| Prostrations at the Jokhang Temple |
Nonetheless, I left Tibet in harmony carrying within me a sense
of beauty and serenity I've never felt before. Something that will never be
forgotten.
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| Mt. Everest base camp |
After crossing the border to Nepal, Wilson and I embarked to
the last leg of our trip. The change in energy was so dramatic, I remember not
being able to sit still. Nepal is chaotic, colorful, vibrant, and extremely
friendly. Simplicity is the way of living, and common knowledge is that every
second lost is a Rupee you’ll never get back. For that reason alone, being in
the back of a taxi feels like a roller coaster ride. And don’t expect to not be
pushed around in the bakery line! We first stayed in the city center of Kathmandu,
but after being wisely advised by our Dutch friend Lisa, we packed our bags and headed to the hills to the
wonderful and glorious Kopan Monastery. Frankly,
this was probably my favorite part of the trip. It was perfection at its mostest.
There, we met a group of travelers from all over the world, and after our
meditation classes, we sat together and talked and laughed for hours over milk
tea and veggie yum yums. Monks were kind and allowed us to experience as
much of their lives as we could. As an outsider, I contemplated the stillness and
enlightenment that comes from Buddhist philosophy, and on my own, happily dwelled on its teachings. These were days of pure bliss.
P.S: My nickname in Tibet given to me by the Tibetan calendar is:
Fire Tiger! Shocker?
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| Prayer wheels |
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| Nepal's crowded streets |
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| The amazing travelers at Kopan |
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| Nepalese Stupa |
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| Inside the Kopan Monastery |
