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China/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023
  • Kristin.aroundtheworld
  • Kristin.aroundtheworld

China/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023

A 69-day adventure by Kristin.aroundtheworld Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 24, 2023
    Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    New adventure is waiting

    September 24, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    My plan so far:
    Fly to China and visit 2,5 days Beijing, continue to Xining to take the night train to Lhasa. Travel 2 weeks through Tibet including a 3 days trek around Mt. Kailash. Continue to my favorite country by bus and stay at least 2 weeks in Nepal and start another trek. After the trek going for a yoga retreat. Have 3-4 weeks left and are totally unplanned. Will decide spontaneous what I wanna do.Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Beijing (1-3)

    September 26, 2023 in China ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    I studied abroad for 4 months here in Beijing 8 years ago. And now I am back and quite interested what changed and what is still the same.

    But first things first…coffee. I was quite impressed how the coffee culture changed. Proper coffee with latte art and oat milk (Oatly!) can you find quite often now in Beijing.

    What else I did in my 3 days in China:
    - strolled through the famous Hutong Jiadaokou
    - walked through my old neighborhood around the university
    - Wangfujing Street
    - Temple of Heaven
    - Forbidden City
    - looking for good local food

    What I noticed:
    - Beijing is calmer - less people and cars on the streets
    - Western people are much less interesting to Chinese - no one wants to take a picture anymore, you will no longer be stared at
    - Less foreigners
    - Chinese hardly ever snot on the streets
    - Men no longer walk topless in public / no „Beijing-Bikini“ anymore
    - Bicycle lines were built throughout the city
    - Almost only big and new cars on the roads, no old cars
    - Only e-scooters are allowed, petrol scooters have been banned
    - No scooters with a whole family or heavy load
    - The subway network has been further expanded and the bus network has been greatly improved
    - You can choose whether you want to sit in a cold or cool compartment
    - Food is still awesome
    - But still difficult to order, because English still doesn’t exist
    - Couldn’t find any street food or food market, I have heard that the government wants a cleaner cityscape and has therefore banned street food, the owners had to find their own store and register, also for tax reasons    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Night train to Lhasa

    September 28, 2023 in China ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Riding a night train was one point on my vision board for 2023. Going to Tibet was on my bucket list. So why not combining both of it?! Here I am, sitting/lying on my upper bunk bed in a night train, sharing a soft sleeper compartment (the best class) with a Chinese family of 3 for 22h(!).

    THE WORLD’S HIGHEST TRAIN RIDE
    „There’s no doubt the new Qīnghǎi–Tibet train line is an engineering marvel. Topping out at 5072m, it is the world’s highest railway, snatching the title from a Peruvian line. The statistics speak for themselves: 86% of the line is above 4000m, and half the track lies on permafrost, requiring a cooling system of pipes driven into the ground to keep it frozen year-round to avoid a rail-buckling summer thaw. Construction of the line involved building 160km of bridges and elevated track, seven tunnels (including the world’s highest) and 24 hyperbaric chambers, the latter to treat altitude-sick workers.“    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Lhasa (1)

    September 29, 2023 in China ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    I made it to Lhasa/Tibet or should I better say Lhasa/China? Apparently Tibet nowadays belongs to China.
    Short summery about the history of Tibet:
    „It grew into a great military power and carved for itself a huge empire in Central Asia; then it renounced the use of arms to practice the teachings of the Buddha and the tragic consequences that it suffers today as a result of the brutal onslaught of the communist Chinese forces.“

    „TIBET, the Roof of the World, is a vast country – over two-thirds the size of India or more than two and half times the size of Austria, Denmark, France and Germany put together. It is a land rich in minerals and the variety of its flora and fauna. And, contrary to popular belief, Tibet is not entirely arid and barren – it has vast areas rich in forests, endless pasturelands suitable for animal husbandry and extensive fertile valleys. Surrounded by high snow-capped mountain ranges and dotted with numerous lakes, Tibet is also the source of many great rivers – the Yar lung Tsang-po (Brahmaputra), Senge Khabab (Indus), Dri-chu (Yangtze), Za chu (Mekong), Ma chu (Yellow), Gyalmo Ngulchu (Salween) to name a few.“

    Best thing today…I finally met Gabi, my travel buddy for the next 5 weeks. She came by plane to Lhasa. Our tour through Tibet starts on the next day, so we had some time for us and strolled around through the old town of Lhasa.    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Lhasa (2)

    September 30, 2023 in China ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    „Sera was founded in 1419 by Sakya Yeshe, a disciple of Tsongkhapa also known by the honorific title Jamchen Chöje. In its heyday, Sera hosted five colleges of instruction, but at the time of the Chinese invasion in 1959 there were just three: Sera Me specialised in the fundamental precepts of Buddhism; Sera Je in the instruction of itinerant monks from outside central Tibet; and Sera Ngagpa in Tantric studies.
    Sera survived the ravages of the Cultural Revolution with light damage, although many of the lesser colleges were destroyed.“

    In Tibetan monasteries, debates are an everyday part of life, and an important part of learning. Monks debate almost every day, normally in the late afternoon and evening, and the debates can sometimes last for several hours each. The groups of monks normally pray for a few hours before the debate, to heighten their awareness and sharpen the mind for the philosophical debates.    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Lhasa (3) - Potala Palace

    October 1, 2023 in China ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    „Lhasa’s cardinal landmark and home to every Dalai Lama from the fifth to 14th, the Potala is one of the great wonders of world architecture. As has been the case with centuries of pilgrims before you, the first sight of the fortresslike structure will be a magical moment that you will remember for years. It’s hard to peel your eyes away from the place.
    The Potala is a structure of massive proportions, with over 1000 rooms, and an awe-inspiring place to visit, but still many visitors come away slightly disappointed. Unlike the Jokhang, which hums with vibrant activity, the Potala lies dormant like a huge museum, and the lifelessness of the highly symbolic building constantly reminds visitors that the Dalai Lama has been forced to take his government into exile.“    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Shigatse

    October 2, 2023 in China ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Today was our first day in the direction of Kailash. We passed the Gampala Pass (4.790m) and stopped at the Yamdrok Lake (4.400m). We continued our drive to the Karola Glacier viewpoint (5.000m) and arrived finally in Shigatse in the afternoon after 360km, where we visited the beautiful and energetic Pamchen Monastery.Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Shigatse - Tashilhunpo Monastery

    October 2, 2023 in China ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    „About 250km southwest of Lhasa and 90km northwest of Gyantse lies Shigatse (Rìkāzé), Tibet’s second-largest town and the traditional capital of Tsang province. Shigatse is a modern, sprawling city, with wide boulevards humming with traffic (even in the pedestrian-only lane). As you drive in across the plains, the site of the Potala-lookalike Shigatse Dzong, high on a hilltop overlooking the town, will probably fire your imagination, but the fort is empty and most of what you see dates from a 2007 reconstruction. It is the Tashilhunpo Monastery, to the west of town, that is the real draw. Since the Mongol sponsorship of the Gelugpa order, Shigatse has been the seat of the Panchen Lama, and this seat was traditionally based in the monastery.“

    The Tashilhunpo Monastery
    „One of the few monasteries in Tibet to weather the stormy seas of the Cultural Revolution, Tashilhunpo remains relatively unscathed. It is a real pleasure to explore the busy cobbled lanes twisting around the aged buildings. Covering 70,000 sq metres, the monastery is now the largest functioning religious institution in Tibet and one of its great monastic sights. The huge golden statue of the Future Buddha is the largest gilded statue in the world.“    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Everest Base Camp

    October 3, 2023 in China

    For foreign travellers, Everest Base Camp has become one of the most popular destinations in Tibet, offering the chance to gaze on the magnificent north face of the world’s tallest peak, Mt Everest. The Tibetan approach provides far better vistas than those on the Nepali side, and access is a lot easier as a road runs all the way to Base Camp.
    Everest’s Tibetan name is generally rendered as Qomolangma, and some 27,000 sq km of territory around Everest’s Tibetan face have been designated as the Qomolangma Nature Reserve.

    It was an experience - an experience we don’t need again 😅 (a lot of people, a lot of people who can’t enjoy and respect the nature and long waiting lines for disgusting toilets).    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Mt. Kailash - Kora Trek (1)

    October 6, 2023 in China ⋅ ☀️ -1 °C

    Mount Kailash considered being central of the world and the holy snow peak for Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Bon. Thousand of pilgrimages go there every year walking around the peak but it is never climbed.

    The sources of four major Asian rivers lie close to this mountain and the two lakes. These rivers are the Indus, the Sutlej, the Brahmaputra and the Karnali.

    VERY INTERESTING FACT❗️
    „Kailash Mountain is considered the axis of the universe, the center of the world, the pillar of the world. It is the place where the earth connects with heaven. As you can see from Google Maps, the distance from Stonehenge in the UK to Mt Kailash is 6,666 kilometers, which is also the distance from Kailash Range to the North Pole. The distance from Mt Kailash to the South Pole is 13,332 kilometers, which is exactly twice the distance to the North Pole or Stonehenge.“    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Manasarovar Lake

    October 9, 2023 in China

    „Lake Manasarovar, or Mapham Yum-tso (Victorious Lake) in Tibetan, is the most venerated of Tibet’s many lakes and one of its most beautiful. With its sapphire-blue waters, sandy shoreline and snowcapped-mountain backdrop, Manasarovar is immediately appealing, and a welcome change of venue from the often-forbidding terrain of Mt Kailash.
    Manasarovar has been circumambulated by Indian pilgrims since at least 1700 years ago when it was extolled in the sacred Sanskrit literature the Puranas. A Hindu interpretation has it that manas refers to the mind of the supreme god Brahma, the lake being its outward manifestation. Accordingly, Indian pilgrims bathe in the waters of the lake and circumambulate its shoreline. Tibetans, who are not so keen on the bathing bit, generally just walk around it. Legend has it that the mother of the Buddha, Queen Maya, was bathed at Manasarovar by the gods before giving birth to her son. It is said that some of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were sprinkled into the lake.“    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Human rights of Tibetans

    October 10, 2023 in Nepal

    „Human rights are limited across China, Tibetans are singled out for greater abuse because of their distinct identity. And while China has long been known for its rights violations, conditions in Tibet are getting dramatically worse. Freedom House lists Tibet as the least-free country on Earth, tied with Syria and worse than even North Korea.

    Under Chinese rule, Tibetans are persecuted simply for preserving their cultural identity and most basic rights. They can be jailed and tortured just for celebrating the Dalai Lama’s birthday. And they face immense restrictions on their abilities to practice their religion, travel and speak freely.

    China cracks down on Tibetans’ human rights through an intense system of control, including a high-tech surveillance state.

    Chinese state media have said that China is presenting “a new way for world human rights development.” That warped vision is already playing out in Tibet.“

    💔    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Kathmandu (1-3)

    October 17, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    After a bumpy ride, we arrived safely after 6h in Kathmandu.
    Shiva, the owner of the trekking company „Himalayan Circuit“ and good friend of Gabi, invited us to stay in the office and home of some volunteers. He has many projects in Nepal, like Shobhana. A project which supports women in Nepal while they grow and harvest turmeric.
    We spent most of the time strolling around in Thamel, relaxing, recharging, eating non mountain food, having good coffee and buying last gear for the next trek.    Read more

  • Kristin.aroundtheworldChina/Tibet/Nepal/India 2023Traveler

    Mera Peak Trek (1)

    October 19, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    Mera Peak is a mountain in the Mahalangur section, Barun sub-section of the Himalaya and administratively in Nepal's Sagarmatha Zone, Sankhuwasabha. At 6.476m it is classified as a trekking peak. It contains three main summits: Mera North, 6.467m; Mera Central, 6.461m and Mera South, 6.065m.

    The standard route from the north involves high-altitude glacier walking. The west and south faces of the peak offer more difficult technical routes. Mera Peak provides the 360-degree panoramic views of 5 world highest mountains over 8000m: Mount Everest (8.848m), Kangchenjunga (8.586m), Lhotse (8.516m), Makalu (8.485m) and Cho Oyu (8.201m) as well as many other peaks of Khumbu Region.

    And lucky us, we got the chance to fly by helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla for just a „little“ extra money of 75 USD instead of driving 5-6h to Ramechap and going by plane from there to Lukla.

    Kathmandu - Lukla - Chutanga
    4,7km
    720hm/0hm    Read more

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