Tibet 西藏

Acutely aware how much I have romanticized Tibet all this time - I was worried that I'd be disappointed. And maybe I was, with some parts of it. But I can't help but be overwhelmed. The sights, the smells, the people, the history. The Chinese government clearly as made it a point to fill Tibet with as many Han as possible - with the Han making up 50% of the population in the cities and 20% in the rural areas.

Everywhere in the city, there is non-stop construction. Roads are being paved, the urban sprawl spreading. There are cars everywhere, the sound of the honk echos throughout the night. It was explained to me that the Chinese government has made it a point to "give" as much as possible.

Despite all the changes - the devotion remains unwavering. Pilgrims still flock to The Jokhang, which houses one of the oldest image of Buddha. All around Tibetans walk around with their handheld mani-wheels, muttering prayers whilst walking around the structure.

The Potala Palace itself carries a bit of a gloom. The place is empty - and overlooking the city of Lhasa itself, it looks like it is almost taunting, demanding even, for its rightful owner to be back. There is something rude about "visiting" a place of government when its "government" is in exile.

One thing my Tibetan tour guide said stuck in my head: "We've never had this and we are still here. So why would we need all this now?"

What can I say? It is easy to be biased either way - but neither will be the solution. Having just finished reading Jerusalem 1913 I wouldn't want Buddhism, so peaceful a religion, to be embroiled in an unending pain. I would be heartbroken to see thousands of years of history go down in flame because of the ego of man. Where do I stand? I choose peace.

The Potala Palace at Lhasa

One of the windows in The Palace

Yak butter for sale

Prayer flags at Bakhor Market

The Jokhang

Prayer flags sprawled out at Namsto Lake

Hagglers at Namsto Lake

Yak and his surroundings

Mao memorabilia

Monk outside Tashilunpo Monastery

Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse

A carved stone on the ground of Tashilunpo Monastery

Monks flocking out from prayers

Maybe this is what best describes Tibet - to the left, a door into the Monastery, to the right, The Wheel of Life, and in the middle, a China Telecom public phone.

The walls at Tashilunpo Monastery