Image: The Tibetan Nature, my dream.

This made me wait for six whole years. So this time, when I went back to China, my main purpose was to visit Tibet. Against all odds, as my family and friends worried about my safety and were really reluctant to see me travel alone to Tibet, I went on my way. I spent nine days inside Tibet, out of the 23 days total in China, and I truly regretted that I did not take a much longer vacation. There are many more places in Tibet where I wanted to go but couldn't, like Mount Everest Base. And I felt very sad when I had to leave. So it is likely that when I go back to China next time, I will visit Tibet again, via a different route, and go to different places.

Image: Great octagonal chorten of the Palchor Monastery at Gyantse.

My nine days in Tibet are actually a long story, which leaves me a long-lasting memory on the following:

• The natural beauty of Tibet: the blue sky, the white, low clouds, the lakes, the few but beautiful snow topped mountains, and so many tough looking, textured hills.


Image: The beautiful Tibetan nature in Gyangtse.

• The friends that I have made there: Europeans, Taiwanese, local Tibetans, a Han Chinese policeman, and an army officer. And my friendship with the Taiwanese continues today. It was quite an experience drinking the buttered tea (Su1 You2 tea) and Highland Barley Liquor (Qing1 Ke1 Jiu3) with the Tibetans. I emptied my alcohol cup bottom-up after a Tibetan girl sang a beautiful high-keyed song to me.
• The adventures: the AMS or "high altitude reaction," the hostility of some Tibetans toward the Han Chinese, the episode of carrying all my luggage and walking in Tibet under the extreme sunshine when our jeep broke down.
• And finally, the dogs.