Since I was a little girl, this magical land of deities has captivated me. It was not easy arriving in Lhasa so close to Losar (the Tibetan New Year) when foreigners are forbidden to enter, but I am so glad I was able to despite many setbacks. Having the honor to learn from native Tibetans about their homeland and ongoing struggles has truly been one of the most profound experiences of my life!
End of the Road?
Tsampa. This is the legendary foodstuff that has enabled sherpas, nomads and countless adventurers to navigate and survive Tibet’s often harsh terrain and unpredictable climate. In the mid to late 20th century, the term “Tsampa-eater” became an all-encompassing label to refer to various peoples from the Tibetan area, even though parts of North India, Turkestan…
On the way to Shigatse!
“You let us know, we can find you a bush or something,” Gelek said over his shoulder from the front seat, “restrooms on the way are not so clean and can charge one or two yuan.” “Oh, lovely, thank you,” I muttered, looking out from the window of our van at the vast dry open…
Where the Earth meets the Sky
Morning, American breakfast? I woke up about half an hour before my alarm was to go off at 8am, confused about what time it was since it was still pretty dark outside. I learned later that sunrise doesn’t start until about 8:30am. Looking in the mirror was slightly jarring my first morning in Lhasa. Oh…
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Tibet
“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Sichuan Airlines” rang through our cabin as we all emitted a collective groan. You see, this was the second time today we had to sit through the preflight video. What had started out as a two hour flight from Chengdu turned into a seven hour-long voyage as ill weather halted…
About Me
Hi, I’m Steph. While working full-time as a literature and drama history teacher in China, I started this blog to share about my travel experiences and observations. Now, when I’m not spending time with my wonderful husband, I continue to write about travel, food, teaching, and identity politics. Read more
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