FLASH BACK FRIDAY
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Journey To Tibet- A Photo Tour
Welcome to Flashback Friday – Where we share previously published articles which were reader favorites. Hope you enjoy this Friday’s article, originally published in 2013.
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Just the name “Tibet” has a rather exotic ring to it. And a journey to Tibet can be quite an adventure. Today it is a part of China where it is “officially” known as “The Tibet Autonomous Region”(see related article here), but to the rest of the world it is still Tibet. Located on the Tibetan Plateau which has an average elevation of 14,000 feet, Tibet is bounded on the south by the Himalayan Mountain Range. It’s not easy to get to Tibet which is mostly a long way from anywhere. Although it’s possible to travel to Tibet by train, most visitors today arrive by air.
Having crossed expansive mountain ranges, your aircraft descends to the Tibetan Plateau. Final approach crosses the Lhasa River, also known as Kyi Chu.
Lhasa, Tibet has a very high altitude, as well as a very arid climate. During my visit it was very dry, and brown, and dusty. In some ways the mountains, with no trees, reminded me of areas of the Southwestern U.S.
However, as you look around, almost everywhere you will find reminders that you are not in the United States of America anymore. And the things you see are amazing. Tibet is a visual feast! Let’s take a look. A Tibet Photo Tour.
Buddhist Monks, seen everywhere in Lhasa, are only one of he many reminders of a strong Buddhist influence.
The Meat Markets in Tibet have a different quality to them. Here customers select their favorite cut of Yak for dinner.
Some of the books in Tibet are just really, really old. These are in a library section of a Buddhist temple. They have some very interesting titles as seen below. Unfortunately no translation was available.
Local shops in Lhasa have some very strange signs with rather exotic names as seen above and below.
Locals in Lhasa use a variety of modes of transportation. And many adopt the use of a face mask to help filter out the dust as well as pollutants. What type of pollutants? Well my experience included those from Yak Butter Candles and Yak Dung Fires among others.
Another example of Lhasa Transportation. Now of course, they also have other, more modern transport as well. Traffic is actually an interesting mix.
The people of Tibet are awesome. Many pedestrians have an interesting look. Umbrellas (partially opened?) protect from the intense sunlight at the high altitude. Prayer wheels are everywhere.
Prayer wheels come in all sizes.
Pilgrims with prayer wheels out for a stroll.
A Classic Tibetan Woman – Traditional attire including her colorful dress apron, reserved by tradition to married women. Notice the prayer beads in her left hand.
Barkhor Square in front of Jokhang Temple – A major destination for pilgrims from around the world.
Potala Palace – the most prominent and striking structure in Lasha – dominates the skyline. In the past it was the center of Tibet’s spiritual and political power and served as the residence of Tibet’s chief monk and leader, the Dalai Lama. As a result of conflict with China, the Dali Lama escaped to India in 1959. Today, the Potala Palace remains as a museum, a location for major religious ceremonies and activities, and a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism
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Tibet – A Visual Feast ……… Enjoy The Adventure!
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