Tibet 1996

Three months of travelling in Tibet will give you plenty of evidence of what has become of the country once surrounded by myths and legends. Tibet’s rich traditions and lived spirituality had to give way to enforced subjugation, crude materialism and consumerism. The Cultural Revolution had heralded only what was to come afterwards. Famous monasteries have been reduced to insignificance with a handful of monks or nuns meticulously monitored by Chinese authorities. The Potala Palace, the sacred site of all Tibetans, is but a tourist attraction today. How much is there still of old Tibet? Despite the short time available, I tried my best to find people and places that still testify to Tibet’s past.