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 by tompt
But it is not always good to give money. You encourage people to beg, because it is worth the trouble. In Lhasa we saw children begging, and in the next street they had to give the money to an older guy........ It looked like they were send out to get money for him.
When monks are sitting there, chanting and asking for money they completed a pilgrimage and need money to get home.
Also don't mistake the friendly gesture of some people holding their hand like begging, but there is no money in it. This means they wish you good luck. People begging always have some notes in their hands. Leave a Comment
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 by tiganeasca
During our entire encounter of five minutes, she said not a word; she was most interested in just looking at us, at what we were wearing, at our Land Cruiser--she was curious about everything. Unlike children who saw foreigners more frequently and so were sometimes quite vocal about demanding tribute, she asked for nothing, not even in return for the photographs we took of her. We were able to share some small gifts with her but nothing we did could provoke so much as a smile. Leave a Comment
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Road construction and maintenance is a regular feature of modern Tibetan life. There are an extraordinary number of people--children as well as women and men-- engaged in road work. For the most part, the crews fill holes with gravel, build up soft shoulders, or level badly worn roads.
But the numbers are astonishing. Tibet must have a higher rate of road crews per kilometer of road than any other nation on earth. Except on paved roads, we might pass as many as five or six crews a day, ranging in size from a few people to as many as several dozen. Formal road grading or paving equipment was virtually non-existent. The most technologically advanced tool that the crews possessed was a shovel. Leave a Comment
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 A set of prayer wheels by tiganeasca
For instance, although I knew Tibet is a Buddhist country, my knowledge of Buddhism was minimal. I had always thought of Buddhism as a religion but Buddhists tend to consider it more of a philosophy or even a way of life. Unless you come well-prepared and well-versed in Tibetan Buddhism, the statues, murals, and almost infinite decorations are nearly too much to comprehend.
Nearly every day I encountered dozens of figures in Tibetan history--Tibetan and Buddhist history are indescribably intertwined--and I learned but a tiny fraction of the stories, myths, and legends of the Buddha and his followers. Images, whether painted, sculpted, or drawn, were everywhere.
But one lesson I brought back is that precise identification may be less important than it seems. There is a great deal to be said for just plunging ahead. Don't concentrate on the words or on individual images. Let the atmosphere wash over you. The sensory experience is of greater moment than the details.
Of course, knowing more will undoubtedly make your trip that much more meaningful. Still, you cannot help but learn and be impressed by the faith and devotion of the people--impressions that will be overwhelming, I think, whether you are an expert or a newcomer.
The people. In all my travels, I have never, ever met people so willing and eager to laugh. Although there are, of course, exceptions and of course people who have little to laugh about, the vast majority of people we met--whether beggars or children, lamas or shopkeepers--were almost always on the verge of a smile, if not a grin. Laughter seems to come easily to these people and the influence such a "small" thing can have on your day and your experience is absolutely enormous. Leave a Comment
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It is really worth visiting the Barkhor Square (in Lhasa) first thing in the morning, the atmosphere really is magical! There are many more pilgrims than any other time of day, and also many of the devotees will light fires in specially constructed ovens in order to create a misty effect. And the result is surreal. It has to be seen to be believed. Leave a Comment
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 by Backpackin_Mac
We met this family twice and chatted at a teahouse and visited a festival with them. The little girl is very smart and the father (although unemployed) speaks perfect English. Lets hope they have a bright future. Leave a Comment
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 Yak dung drying in the
sun. by tomptLeave a Comment
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 Monk with moblie by gretsLeave a Comment
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 Monks Debating by into-thin-air
The Monks were Debating, Buddhism isn't written in stone like many other religions so the Monks Debate it amongst themselves, when a Monk is delivering his point of view he will jump into the air and clap -- if the hands come together palms together then he wishes you to agree the point but if he turns one hand so that the palm of one hand hits the back of the other then he doesn't agree with this particular point !! This really is the Most Amazing sight and I consider myself Incredibly lucky in been able to witness it !!!! Leave a Comment
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Many of the pilgrims coming to the Barkhor Kora in Lhasa from remote villages in Tibet, had not seen westerners until the came across us. They were as curious about us as we were about them, but they were a little less subtle. Touching, especially patting one’s rear end, was common practice. Stroking blond hair, touching the skin and feeling the material in your clothing also happened a lot. This was not just confined to Lhasa, but happened in almost every town we went. Sometimes it was a lovely experience, other times it became a little tiresome to constantly be the centre of attention, with their nudging each other, giggling and pointing. Leave a Comment
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