The fabled mountains of the Himalaya holds a special place in my heart. I was once lucky enough to spend the better part of 13 months circumnavigating this region on foot. The most mystical, dramatic & heart-wrenching of that time was the 7 weeks I spent traversing the Tibetan plateau.

Any attempt to encapsulate the entire story of Tibet in a medium of this limited space is sure to come up woefully insufficient. However, I’ve tried to provide plenty of links to further reading & learning.

Join me for an overview of this resplendent -country- region about which we’ve all heard, but few of us can begin to comprehend.

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos
All photos by author except where noted.
(Click photos for larger images at host)

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

From the official website of the Tibetan government in exile:

Tibet lies at the centre of Asia, with an area of 2.5 million square kilometers. The earth’s highest mountains, a vast arid plateau and great river valleys make up the physical homeland of 6 million Tibetans. It has an average altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level.

Despite over 40 years of Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Tibetan people refuse to be conquered and subjugated by China. The present Chinese policy, a combination of demographic and economic manipulation, and discrimination, aims to suppress the Tibetan issue by changing the very character and the identity of Tibet and its people.

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It’s one of the poorest countries in the world, but few disagree that Cambodia is one of the most beautiful.

Wracked by war, poverty and political corruption for the past several decades, the people of Cambodia persevere against the odds and cling to hope that they will find peace & prosperity in the 21st century. The mighty Mekong River, the majestic ruins of one of mankind’s most advanced civilizations and the fabled “Killing Fields” are just a few of the famous landmarks in this southeast Asian monarchy wedged between 2 roaring economic neighbors (Thailand and Vietnam).

Join me after the jump for a look at this distinctive nation and its people.

(Cross-posted @ Daily Kos)
Join me after the jump for a look at this distinctive nation and its people.
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We have a great new idea, perhaps even a million-dollar one. If your logo isn’t shown above, we aren’t currently seriously considering your network as an ideal home for “The Laughing Planet.”

Not a typo. Although I love any reference one cares to make about the high-larious HBO show the title elicits. Instead, this post is to inform our show’s…um…fanbase that I have relocated from the town where the editing magic happened. Yes, I’ll be giving up the rather comfy confines of the downtown loft in Sacramento with its exposed ceilings, 24-hour in house gym, and the screening room which hosted the 1st several official showings of TLP.

 Now I’ll be living in the shadow of Mt. Diablo, perhaps a more fitting home for someone with a devilish grin.   Although I became rather fond of the quaint cow town in the middle of the central valley, I can’t say I’ll miss the 4 months of summer hovering around 95 degrees. It’s also comforting to know I can now ride BART to visit my sublime childhood home, The City by The Bay.