Tibet Travel Photos

The End

This is the end of the journey. This is the end of this weblog. Not really, because it will stay online for as long as I want it be alive and online. This is a travelog from the past. Just a few weeks back in the 80s. No big deal. Take a look around if you like. Start here. It doesn't really matter how much time you want to spend. As long as you appreciate that there is something special behind it. Somewhere behind those huge mountains there is a region to explore. A region which is unique, beautiful, special and peaceful. At least it used to be peaceful. Before it got occupied.

This weblog is dedicated to the people of Tibet.

Chomolangma

Chomolangma or Qomolangma, "mother of the universe", Sagarmatha, "forehead of the sky", Mount Everest. How tiny and irrelevant can you feel.

Back in Kathmandu

Two days on the bus. Another sleepless night at the Chinese border in a noisy restaurant sort of hotel sort of thing and the next day I was back in Nepal. I took a room, had my first shower in weeks, went to my favourite restaurant, went to my favourite bar, got terribly drunk and slept for countless hours. It was good to be back in the warmth. Coming back from the Tibetan altitude I felt like superman. And I knew I had just finished one of the most important trips in my life. There was only one thing left to do. I booked a round trip to Everest which was offered by Royal Nepal Airlines for I believe something like 50$. A bloody fortune when you travel on a shoestring but I was desperate to see the roof of the world from the other side.

Taking A Picture

Tourists. Honestly.

Giants

Sishapangma

And another giant that you can see from the bus. Sishapangma, Xixabangma, 8046 metres high. The only 8000 metre peak totally within Tibet. A holy mountain of course and apparently it was never photographed until 1950.

Lak Pa La Pass

5220 metres.

Short Break

Mount Everest

When you travel from Lhasa to Nepal and you take the "Friendship Highway", don't forget to look out of the window in the Tingri West area. Left hand side. Because you can see Chomolangma, otherwise known as Mount Everest. It doesn't look very impressive, yes it's that tiny dark pyramid shaped mountain almost in the middle of the picture. But hey, it's still the highest mountain on Earth. The distance from the highway is probably 60-70 km and in the valley facing Chomolangma lies the famous Rongbuk Monastery.

Back To Nepal

Eventually it was time to travel back. 1000 km Lhasa - Kathmandu. But this time I managed to get a bus which would need two days to take me to the Nepali border. Two days in a vehicle with no heating, tons of dust and God knows how many high passes, but hey. At least I had a proper seat. Well, sort of. A seat. I met a bunch of Germans in the bus (they are bloody everywhere, aren't they?) and we had a great time. The Chinese soldiers travelling in the bus were not amused, ah well. Almost no Tibetans in the bus which was a shame. Bus tickets were too expensive. Which says a lot, doesn't it?

Pilgrims

In front of Jokhang temple. I shouldn't have taken this picture. I felt like an intruder. But I couldn't resist. Because it it was a very peaceful and beautiful moment. And looking at these people now reminds me, again, of this moment.

On The Roof

Tangka

To be perfectly honest I can't remember if this was a tangka or a painting. But it was us walking around on the roof of Jokhang Temple. That I know.

The Roof

It's one of these moments really. We asked for permission to climb on the roof of Jokhang Temple. And much to our surprise the monks agreed. And I am still very grateful for that. We were also allowed to take pictures although one of the monks was always around to check on us which I think is only fair und very understandable. Thank you very much.