Tibet: to learn how to be silent

Post date: Oct 02, 2016 4:32:5 PM

After Shanghai I flew to Tibet. In order for a westerner to go to Tibet, you have to have a Tibetan travel permit, issued by a Chinese approved Tibetan travel agency. It didn’t come until the last minute the night before I left. I almost ended up in Thailand instead.

But I flew into Lasa. First we need to have a conversation about altitude sickness, because boy did it hit me and hit me hard. Walking from the car to the front desk at the hotel I almost passed out from exhaustion. The first night I had no energy to do anything besides sleep, and at one point that was physically exhausting.

But the next morning, I met with my tour guide, and we went to the Dahli Lama’s winter and summer palace.

In the 7 days I was there I saw many sites in Lasa, then some on the way to Everest.

This included the above, holiest temple in Tibetan buddhism.

But the thing I learned the most was how important it was to be quiet. In a country where no one else speaks your language, it’s impossible to drown your thoughts in the spoken words. I was getting over a breakup at the time, and I had spent months running from my thoughts. Tibet forced me to be silent, and remember what it felt like to like myself. Even through the altitude sickness, this was an invaluable lesson.

Finally, we went to Everest.

Did I mention I got altitude sickness? Everest was no exception. I was horribly sick. There was a little lady who ran the yak woolen tent I was staying in. I don’t think I’m exaggerating at all to say she saved my life. I would regain conciousness, she would walk over and fill up a small glass with boiled water. I would drink as much as I could and put the glass down. She would fill it back up and push it towards me. We would repeat this routine until I passed out again. I did manage to get out and see the mountain, during one of my bathroom/vomit breaks. Don’t worry Everest, I’ll be back.

Funny story, the other side of the himalayas? Rain forest. As far up and as far down as you can see is green with epic waterfalls that fall for thousands of feet. It’s stunning. Towards the bottom of the valley is Zhangmu, the border town between Tibet and Nepal. The whole thing clings to the side of the mountain, and there is one road that is a switch back through town.

I was finally able to speak, and breath, and move around without dying of altitude. But I will forever treasure my time in Tibet and all it taught me.