Journey to the Motherland Part 8.3 - Tibet, Shigatse and Gyantse

yes i know i know, after the graduation pictures i should probably blog about the graduation trip with family. But as this blog is a creation of my discretion.. i feel like resuming the journey to the motherland series. So i will blog about the graduation trip.... eventually.


On the way to Shigatse

So yes, the last time i left off on this series was when i returned back to Tibet and we visited a couple of tibetian monasteries and finally experienced the serenity that we were looking for. So after we rested in Lhasa for that few days, we embarked on our pilgrimage to Mount Everest... And somehow we managed to convince the two ladies to join us for the trip.. they were good company so we sort of strong-armed them into joining us.. haha but they had fun... but anyway... the first stop towards everest was this city called shigatse... how to describe this place... well.. i would say unforgettable at best.. Its a tibetian city totally awashed with the chinese culture... literally if it wasn't for the tibetian characters on the signboards you would think that this was just another chinese city. But we had to come to this town to get our travel permits so that we are able to get into the Mount Everest area. But the redeeming factor is the company.. at least we had fun having dinner and talking on the rooftop of our prison cell inspired hostel.


Oxygen bar in Shigatse


Some monastery in Shigatse which we did not really bother going in.. perhaps that also gets boring after some time


The Everest travel permit that brought us to this city


A video of our room and the mishap we had during dinner


On the way to Gyantse

And after the relatively uneventful stay in shigatse.. we headed for Gyantse! My my... what a beautiful place.. seriously.. it must have been one of the most gorgeous places i have ever visited... they use yak shit for fuel... there is an amazing octagon shaped monastery... there is an defense fort build high on a hill... all the buildings were constructed in tibetian style... and other than the paved roads and automobile transport... this is probably one of the last few villages that you can see the a glimpse of how life used to be before the Chinese came. (but i am sure there are other villages that are more reserved but i only know this one for now)


Yak shit


The defensive fort overlooking the village


Tanwee looking over the monastry


Me looking tired after the climb up the knoll... if you are wondering about my bandage.. ask tanwee. :)


She looks to be giving an military assessment of the terrain right? Or is that just my silly imagination

One of the most memorable parts about this leg of the trip is that we managed to make contact with most of the local tibetians.. You really should come here one day and see it for yourself... here we are in the middle of tibetian.. and i am talking to a boy whose ambition is to become a farmer...but yet he was able to speak english to me... damn.. tibet never ceases to amaze me..But anyway.. these children were so so cute.. if there is one video that you have to see... this is it.. it has footage of us playing with the children... they were so kind as to invite us into their home and treat us with some tea. Their pure innocence and trusting nature will simply melt the hardest of hearts... If people can see how they behave... i am sure they will have a lot to reflect upon and be shameful of..

You have to see this









Ok as always its a sunday night and i had intended to write more.. but somehow time always finds a way to sneak up on me and i have to go back to camp already... nevertheless... just take a look at the second video.. even if it takes a long time to load.. Ok i am off to camp!

Graduation Pictures!

haha apologise for the lack of creativity in the title... i just finish packing my stuff for moving into camp.. so kinda tired and brain dead from the day's exertions.. So before i move into camp and live my life there from mondays to fridays.. i think it would be proper that i at least put one post in.

i know i know... the journey to the motherland series has been long long overdue.. and i am doing it in stops and starts.. but at this moment i dun have the mood to write about the china trip.. so i'll do the next best thing.. i'll show you pictures of my graduation.. nice? :)

So yes graduation... after 4 very interesting years.. i must say.. i really did live my life to the max in these four years... got involved with someone (though it didn't work out), did an exchange in barcelona, travelled to mexico... france.. italy.. tibet... many places in the states...(ok i beta stop b4 i get carried away) made so so many good friends... enjoyed myself to the max.. got really involved in the eller college student council.. while getting decently well in my studies... when i do look back on this period of my life. Man i am so glad i did all that.

Ah thinking about it now gives me a big broad smile!


Thats me with my group mates at Eller 100 its a pre-graduation recognition thingy


Yours truely the only chinese on stage! Asian Pride! haha


Mi and my family from Globe, Arizona


The ladies from council!


Wheres Clifton?


Clifton Iyer with his family!


My study group from a long time ago


Daysha and Brenna.. my two close friends saying goodbye... tear.


My FAMILIA~!!


The Singapore traveling contingent! :) See my grandmother so fit hor... 78 years old

Okok.. i intended to write more.. but look at the time i really should be heading for camp now.. if not... i will not be able to get into camp by 2359 hrs... which is bad.

So til the next time i update. Take care guys!!

Houston, we are back!

Hey ppl!!! thanks for all the comments and the help given. and thanks to your comments and your blessings.. i am back in business. I am using my own computer now and in the process of replying long overdue emails. Should be able to post a blog in a couple of hours. Thanks again peeps!