3. Huge, close-to-nature toilets
Lack of makeshift toilets along the way led us to do our business behind a bush/log/whatever we can hide behind. At first, it was super embarrassing at first and the females tried to use umbrellas to cover up, but after that, we just hecked and trusted that everyone will just literally mind their own business and not peep! haha, though there were Pervs around like my cousin who was taking shots of us with our heads popping out from the bushes. Man!(and there was a local Tibetian lady at one stop who stood there and stared at us for VERY long. She was probably wondering if we were stealing her bush cherries :x) Ah i really wished to be a male then, until the tour guide said some stupid male went to pee against the wind direction :0
4. Remember your sunblock!
Due to the altitude, the UV rays are ultra strong and damaging. I pity the Tibetian Kids who all have burnt cheeks which made them look so much older. We were also joking around that our butts have also been fried due to frequent singing in the wild! :x
5. Sand Storms
We were greeted by a sand storm when we reached Lhasa. Apart from that, raindrops are often icy cold even during the months of summer!
6. YAKYAKYAKYAK
Yaks everywhere! I pity those Yaks(like the one I'm sitting on) because they're like for exhibition and their owners pull them by a rope which goes through their noses. Ah i dunno how to describe. Still, they look quite sad. Although those happier ones at the fields are ultimately meant for the butcher knives, at least their less abused by tourists. Ok i was one of those abusers, but I was forced onto it! haah, these tibetian owners were really quick! once we alighted the bus, they wrapped us up in traditional clothing at lightning speed, got us up the yaks and demanded 15 yuan each.
7. Quiet Pets
There's a kind of tranquility in Tibet. Apart from the spiritual tranquility, I think what contributes to it is probably the animals who don't have a liking for making noise. The locals say that its because of the lack of oxygen, that's why the dogs dont bark, the goats seldom
meh .8. Great Hospitality
The Tibetians are really hospitable people. Upon visiting a tibetian village, the house lady started pouring us wine, tea and serving their local cuisine. She held my cousin's hand throughout the 35 min visit. We almost wanted to leave him there as her son in law!
9. Religious Commitment
The Tibetians are a religious group of people. Their prayers often require huge time and physical commitment, which they execute almost daily with sheer devotion. For example, praying for them does not just constitute a simple head bow, they have to lie fully on the ground, get up and repeat many times, as seen in this photo.
10. Poverty
Many Tibetians still live below the poverty line. I still remember the look on the children's faces when we offered them sweets and chocolates. Or the look of desperation on a particular boy's face as he pleaded me persistently, pulling my shirt and saying " Please Sister, I beg of you". It was a look I will remember for a long time.
All right, will upload more photos sometime later!