About 10 days ago I returned from my last sightseeing of the quarter. Jerilyn and I went together to Tibet, which was nothing short of an adventure. There we saw many eye-popping sights, which caused various emotions ranging from my amazement in the Tibetan pilgrims prostrating around sacred sites, anger with the dominating presence of the Chinese government over a completely docile population, speechlessness from a Himalayan sunset (and an Everest sunrise), disbelief at the sparsely-heated hotels in sub-freezing weather, and a longing for something not Yak-derived.
The trip truly was more than text can communicate, and can best be described as a succession of small excitements and surprises that somehow tied together. An important part was from the help our classmates Jwalant Gurung, Abi Devan, and Cortilia Lin, who connected us with contacts and travel companies that made the trip so memorable (including a couple ‘not so memorable’ moments!). It’s amazing how far the UW network reaches around the world: in a tiny 4th story office in Lhasa, I saw a photo including Ambrose Bittner (UW MBA 2004) who I climbed Mt Baker and Mt Rainier with last summer!
If you have the chance, go to Tibet. It’s cold. It’s desolate. But it’s unique and totally worth it. And for the record, if you take the train you *probably* don’t need the TTB travel permit J
I have posted almost 200 photos of the trip on www.picasaweb.google.com/mattkuffel
The trip truly was more than text can communicate, and can best be described as a succession of small excitements and surprises that somehow tied together. An important part was from the help our classmates Jwalant Gurung, Abi Devan, and Cortilia Lin, who connected us with contacts and travel companies that made the trip so memorable (including a couple ‘not so memorable’ moments!). It’s amazing how far the UW network reaches around the world: in a tiny 4th story office in Lhasa, I saw a photo including Ambrose Bittner (UW MBA 2004) who I climbed Mt Baker and Mt Rainier with last summer!
If you have the chance, go to Tibet. It’s cold. It’s desolate. But it’s unique and totally worth it. And for the record, if you take the train you *probably* don’t need the TTB travel permit J
I have posted almost 200 photos of the trip on www.picasaweb.google.com/mattkuffel
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