Yak
This morning Nic told mention that this blog is dying again. As if this is my blog and I have the obligation to update. I am just tumpang to write here,ok? Not the main actor of this movie. Sorry for the grumpling. =P
I am just back from Tibet. Totally haven't ready to write anything yet since all the pictures haven't arrange nor edit. However, it is good that I wrote down my feeling while it is fresh in my mind. Many times I wrote the travel blog after too long the impact from that trip will be lighten. I don't know how long the feeling of Tibet will last in my heart. But there is a voice deep in my heart said that I wish it last forever?
My aunt asked me, is it an enjoyable trip? The answer is no. Enjoyable is not the right word but inspiring, fulfilling your heart, mind, eye will be the right adjectives. In this post, I will write more on my personal feeling. After this, I will post some photos to my facebook and make it a photoblog which mean each photo will full of word.
This is a trip which visited many many monasteries. Tibet Buddhism is really different with Buddhism that I used to know. There are so much different with Chinese Buddhism. I have a tour guide who grows up in a monastry and his uncle is a monk who teaches him all he Tibetan Buddhism since young. The thing I love about Buddhism is learning it is like listen to story. All the moral will come after the story. Listening to my tour guide throughout the tour while he is explaining Tibetan Buddhism is a enjoyable moments.
Before I go there, I have no idea why Tibetan is so determine and aggressive to fight for the independent from CN. I read some information from Lonely Planet before the trip. The shocking feeling fills me up. First and foremost, as a foreigner, I need to apply for special permit before go to Tibet. (some foreigners comment that travelling to Tibet is as difficult as travelling North Korea.) Secondly, if I am travelling outside of Lhasa, I need to hired a tour guide and driver who go along. Not forget to say only certified travel agency can do so. Foreigner are not allow to travel outside Lhasa without them. Thirdly, if you are going to the border like Mount everest base camp, there is another border permit which you have to apply. Fourth, all the itinerary detail, date, accommodation address has to submit before you travel. Certain hotel don't allow foreigners to overnight. In another words, foreigners only allow to stay in expensive hotel or some back packer dorm.
Walking inside Lhasa city, seeing army with machines gun at EVERY junction surprise me as well. Not allow to talk to all the monk since monk is not allow to talk to foreigner. No more pilgrim inside Lhasa. So those pictures you used to see that Tibetan fall on the floor, 3 steps 1 prostration are no longer a common scene. Monk and non are not allowed to meditate inside Lhasa too. It is a city which shine because of the religion. Without the practice of religion and so many restriction, it is like a tiger in a cage. Lifeless.
According to my tour guide, if I want to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism I only can go to Eastern part of Tibet where there is not so strict and tension. Jet Li got his inspiration and teaching from there too. Nevertheless, looking at Potala Palace does had a strange feeling in my heart. I d not know how to describe it. Not an extravagant building nor luxurious. But it hits me hard. Standing there high and still calms me down somehow.
Don't listen to all my bad impression towards Lhasa because anyting out from Lhasa, Tibet is a lovely place. Can I say I love it? Or at least I can conclude that I don't mind come to this place again in future.
I am just back from Tibet. Totally haven't ready to write anything yet since all the pictures haven't arrange nor edit. However, it is good that I wrote down my feeling while it is fresh in my mind. Many times I wrote the travel blog after too long the impact from that trip will be lighten. I don't know how long the feeling of Tibet will last in my heart. But there is a voice deep in my heart said that I wish it last forever?
My aunt asked me, is it an enjoyable trip? The answer is no. Enjoyable is not the right word but inspiring, fulfilling your heart, mind, eye will be the right adjectives. In this post, I will write more on my personal feeling. After this, I will post some photos to my facebook and make it a photoblog which mean each photo will full of word.
This is a trip which visited many many monasteries. Tibet Buddhism is really different with Buddhism that I used to know. There are so much different with Chinese Buddhism. I have a tour guide who grows up in a monastry and his uncle is a monk who teaches him all he Tibetan Buddhism since young. The thing I love about Buddhism is learning it is like listen to story. All the moral will come after the story. Listening to my tour guide throughout the tour while he is explaining Tibetan Buddhism is a enjoyable moments.
Before I go there, I have no idea why Tibetan is so determine and aggressive to fight for the independent from CN. I read some information from Lonely Planet before the trip. The shocking feeling fills me up. First and foremost, as a foreigner, I need to apply for special permit before go to Tibet. (some foreigners comment that travelling to Tibet is as difficult as travelling North Korea.) Secondly, if I am travelling outside of Lhasa, I need to hired a tour guide and driver who go along. Not forget to say only certified travel agency can do so. Foreigner are not allow to travel outside Lhasa without them. Thirdly, if you are going to the border like Mount everest base camp, there is another border permit which you have to apply. Fourth, all the itinerary detail, date, accommodation address has to submit before you travel. Certain hotel don't allow foreigners to overnight. In another words, foreigners only allow to stay in expensive hotel or some back packer dorm.
Walking inside Lhasa city, seeing army with machines gun at EVERY junction surprise me as well. Not allow to talk to all the monk since monk is not allow to talk to foreigner. No more pilgrim inside Lhasa. So those pictures you used to see that Tibetan fall on the floor, 3 steps 1 prostration are no longer a common scene. Monk and non are not allowed to meditate inside Lhasa too. It is a city which shine because of the religion. Without the practice of religion and so many restriction, it is like a tiger in a cage. Lifeless.
According to my tour guide, if I want to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism I only can go to Eastern part of Tibet where there is not so strict and tension. Jet Li got his inspiration and teaching from there too. Nevertheless, looking at Potala Palace does had a strange feeling in my heart. I d not know how to describe it. Not an extravagant building nor luxurious. But it hits me hard. Standing there high and still calms me down somehow.
Don't listen to all my bad impression towards Lhasa because anyting out from Lhasa, Tibet is a lovely place. Can I say I love it? Or at least I can conclude that I don't mind come to this place again in future.