Monthly Archives: June 2021

The people of Tibet

TIBET, MAY-JUNE 2001 -   What makes Tibet so special ?  Its people.  This story tells the tale of the people of Tibet I’ve encountered on my travels through this amazing part of the world, and is meant as a tribute to … Continue reading

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Mount Kailash Kora – continued

KAILASH, JUNE 2001 - continued… Day two The big hiking day ! Today we had to cross the highest point on the kora, Drölma-la, about 5600 metres.  I woke up and the cold I had been developing the last couple of days, was … Continue reading

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Mount Kailash Kora

KAILASH, JUNE 2001 - After a bouncing drive of several days on the high planes of Tibet, after having crossed numerous high passes, after more than a week without a shower, we finally arrived on the sacred place of  Mount Kailash.  In … Continue reading

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Saga Dawa, moments of magic

TARBOCHE (KAILASH), JUNE 2001 - This is the story about one of the most impressive moments I’ve ever witnessed anywhere.  Still now that I’m “back with my feet on the ground” for some months already, I sometimes wonder if I was really … Continue reading

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Destruction and reconstruction

GANDEN, MAY 2001 - The Chinese occupation of Tibet has destroyed a lot in past times, and in present times this destruction of Tibetan heritage and culture still goes on.  This is a rather sad story, but it’s a story I … Continue reading

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A visit to the nunnery in Lhasa

LHASA, MAY 2001 - Lhasa, the spiritual centre of Tibet… The former residence of the Dalai Lama is now a deserted museum and isolated from the old Tibetan part of town, which is the Barkhor area surrounding the  heart of Tibetan budhism, the Jokhang … Continue reading

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The great Trans-Sib experience

SIBERIA-RUSSIA, JUNE 2002 - Four days non-stop on a train, from the far east in Siberia , near the Mongolian border, to the the high north of St-Petersburg. It is truly the experience of a lifetime.  A fellow traveller on the … Continue reading

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Three nights on a Siberian train

IRKUTSK – MOSCOW , JUNE 2002 - ’So where did you say you go on Holiday ? Siberia…? ‘, a remark often heard when I was talking about my travel plans…. ‘And for how long are going to sit on the … Continue reading

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Lake Baikal Mysteries

LAKE BAIKAL, JUNE 2002 - It’s early in the morning when our train arrives in Irkutsk station, the first city of importance in East-Siberia we approach after two nights.  But before we visit this beautiful city we go straight onto the … Continue reading

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NEPAL

KATHMANDU, MAY 2001 - Upon arrival on the international airport of Kathmandu, after an exhausting trip of more than 20 hours and three connecting flights, the hills of Kathmandu valley and the country side housing welcomed me on my first encounter with the … Continue reading

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