This land always comes into the fray whenever I’m asked what my favorite country I’ve visited is. Devout Buddhists are the nicest people you can hope to encounter on the road. Dramatic Himalayan scenery unfolds around every corner. Ancient holy sites are the center of every settlement. What more could a traveler hope for? Good food, perhaps. Sadly, that’s the one thing Tibet fails to provide. In fact, it’s the ONLY upside to the Chinese occupation. In nearly every town you can find a small food stall serving Chinese food instead of having to endure the bland mush that serves the Tibetan palette.

Fast facts:

• Over 90% of the local (Tibetan) populace adheres to strict Mayahana Buddhism (Lamaism)
• The region has been under Chinese rule since the suppression of an uprising in 1959, the same year that the Dalai Lama fled to permanent exile in India
• Outside of the few cities, most people survive as nomadic livestock herders

Cheyney’s tips:

• Pick an area of the country to focus your time. Travel is very slow. Seeing it all in one visit is impossible with new shortened Chinese visa restrictions
• Bring lots of snack food wherever you go. A water filter is a must.
• Learn some Tibetan phrases besides “Tashi Delek” (Hello). The local people warm up even more when you don’t force them to use Chinese or, God forbid, English
• Sneak in. Don’t succumb to the pressure to buy a “permit”. No such document is ever actually issued or checked once you arrive in Tibet from China.
• Go NOW! The traces of real Tibetan life fade with each passing day of Chinese occupation (more…)