Page 16 - Cape-Camera-January-February-2021

January/February 2021 Cape Camera

A member’s travelogue

(left) Our hiking group on the Gokyo Ri (5,357m) Nepal in 2004 with the familiar view of Mt Everest, South Side in the background; (right)
Tibetan women dressed in their colourful traditional attire

Tibet - an ancient land of mystery and wonder

by Roger Trythall

Tibet can claim a history of thousands of years with tumultuous periods of being an independent entity or
ruled by powerful Chinese or Mongolian dynasties. Until quite recently very few Westerners were allowed to
enter or lay eyes on the Holy City – Lhasa. In 1950, China, who dubiously claims a centuries-old sovereignty
over the Himalaya regions, sent in thousands of troops to enforce its right on the region; and in 1959, and after
a failed anti-Chinese uprising, the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet to set up a government in exile in India. During
China's Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, a horrific period of repression and martial law followed when
most monasteries were destroyed and thousands of Tibetans killed. However, the allegiances of many Tibet-
ans remain with their exiled spiritual leader who see him as a living god.

I have been fascinated by this country’s history, culture and On my first trip, I was accompanied by my dear friend Reinhard
spectacular mountain landscape for quite some time, partly be- Traub, who is one of my regular travel partners, and aside from
cause of its remoteness and partly because it incites a degree of seeing the famous monasteries, we wanted to learn as much as
romanticism. I have been fortunate to have visited Tibet twice we could about the recent history of Tibet and the annexing by
in the past 15 years - the first time in 2004 and again in 2017 – China. We had been trekking in Nepal and took China Air from
although both visits were motivated by quite different agendas. Kathmandu to Lhasa where we were met by our delightful and
Between these times, considerable changes around Lhasa have well-educated lady guide who organised the visits to the three
taken place as China increased its influence. principal monasteries of Lhasa as well as the Potala Palace.

(left) The Jokhang Temple; (right) Devout pilgrims prostrating themselves in front of the temple

15 Cape Town Photographic Society