 Eastern
Tibet is a land apart from the rest of Tibet. Its climate, geography,
flora & fauna and isolation all lend it a unique, almost magical
atmosphere. Traditional life seems less disturbed here than in central
Tibet.
The stone village and vertical prayer flags resemble those in Bhutan
and the unusually shaped chortens (stupa) seems more at home in Mustang.
The scenery often resembles more the Swiss Alps or Rocky Mountains
than the high Tibetan plateau.
Amdo is home to the 14th Dalai Lama & is also the birth place
of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelukpa School of Tibetan Buddhism.
Traversing the expansive grasslands of Amdo, we visit the famous Labrang
& Kubum monasteries, one of the most important Gelukpa monasteries
in the Tibetan world. We also visit Kokonor Lake, the largest salt
water lake on the plateau & the bird island. From Xining we fly
to Lhasa, the forbidden city & the ultimate pilgrim destination
for Tibetan Buddhist all over. |
