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May,20


 
 

DAY 3: LHASA, EVEREST, NEPAL WORKSHOP

Monk debates at Sera Monastery, Lhasa


Who doesn’t like a good debate?

Lhasa’s Sera Monastery is known for it’s debates.  Before I even attempt to describe it to you, try to mentally block out all the “debates” you’ve been to and fallen asleep at in the past, because these debates deviate wildly from what you would imagine a good ol’ fashioned run-of-the-mill debate to look like.  Lot’s of slapping.  Lots of prayer beads flying around.  Lot’s of laughs.

So what’s it like?  For the most part the format consists of one monk addressing a group of peers with some sort of weighty and thought-provoking life question.  What is truth? What is existence?  Does Diet Dr. Pepper really taste like the original? The standing monk will, in closing, try to drive home his points with a loud clap of the hands as if to say “Yeah, that’s right!”  The younger, less experienced monks can be seen awkwardly trying to figure out what pressing issue they could possibly bring to the table while the much older monks – much less flamboyant - simply sit there, just like old men everywhere do, and calmly discuss things.

I have little clue as to what they are saying – don’t really need to.  All the slapping, emotion, raised voices – the performance value is simply great and more than makes up for the lost verbal communication.  However, I did find myself, in my mind, filling in the missed conversations with completely ridiculous yet oddly entertaining discussions.  “Is the first Godfather really the best of the series?”  ”Nikon vs. Canon?” “Can HDR really be considered photography?” I’m sure the HDR debate has found it’s way to the Tibetan plateau and these monks are discussing it’s finer points, don’t you think?

If debate club was like this in high school I might have had more motivation to participate.


2011 – Lhasa, Nepal, Everest Tour. Day #3 – Images by Brian Hirschy

 
May,18


 
 

DAY 2: LHASA, EVEREST, NEPAL WORKSHOP

Postcard from the endless alleyways of Lhasa


“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

I have absolutely no apologies for using one of Tolkien’s most overused and bastardized lines.  This quote couldn’t describe more accurately how I feel when I stepped foot into the alleyways of Lhasa.  The advice I often give to people visiting for the first time: “Get lost and love every minute of it!”.  Pilgrims from every corner of the Tibetan plateau, old men sitting around drinking butter tea and playing cards, street vendors selling old trinkets, temples scattered everywhere,  monks and nuns all combine to make the Lhasa alleyways home to some of the most unique and fascinating culture anywhere in Tibet.

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Dec,06


 
 

Between Here and There

A quick preview of sites between Lhasa and Kathmandu (and some silliness)


Though the circumstances and factual aspects of my claim are a bit hazy and all but confirmed. I do however stand by this statement – Coming with Matt Brandon and I in April might be your best chance to see an actual yeti in the wild… just don’t hold us to that claim.  We will however provide the opportunity to take your own “I saw a yeti at Everest” picture which is sure to impress.

If you haven’t figured out by my obsurd ramblings about Everest, I’m really excited about our upcoming workshop!  I’m stoked for this years Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland trip (and here) with my good friend, Matt Brandon. I’ve been to this area several times but this will be my first time to cross the border into Nepal, and I must say, I’m looking forward to actually travelling the entire Friendship Highway.

Posted below are several pictures taken from the area between 2005 and 2010.  Pictured below are images from Lhasa, Sera and Drepung monasteries, the Barkhor kora, Gyantse, and Shigatse (with more to come in the weeks ahead).  These pictures are some of the best examples of the unique Himalayan culture (and some wildlife) that those who come on the trip with us in April will get to see first hand.

Give it a look and we hope you can join us in April!

A huge thanks goes out to ThinkTank and BlackRapid – our incredible sponsors on this trip.  We continue to be excited at the continued support of such amazing sponsors that help make amazing trips like these continually possible.  If you have a second go and check them out!

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Nov,15


 
 

Lhasa, Everest, Nepal Overland

Join Matt Brandon for the trip of a lifetime immersed in the unique Himalayan Culture!


So I’ve been working on this for a few months now and I’m absolutely stoked to announce it today.

The overland route connecting Lhasa, Tibet with Kathmandu, Nepal is one of the most beautiful and and amazing land routes in all of Asia. Covering a distance of 600 miles, this workshop will take us from the modern Tibetan capital of Lhasa to pristine high altitude lakes, winding ancient rivers, beautiful farming valleys, Everest Base Camp and over the Himalaya Mountain passes to Kathmandu. We will be visiting the most famous monasteries and temples in all of Tibet and will spend 15 days in the unique Himalayan culture. Join us on the Roof of the World to get up close and personal with Himalayan culture and the adventure of a lifetime!

I get to hang out with my good friend Matt Brandon for 15 days travelling from Lhasa to Mount Everest and then finally to Kathmandu over some truly amazing terrain and through some of my favorite cultural spots in the entire world.  This will be my 3rd time through this area, but my first time to cross over into Nepal and enjoy Kathmandu.  Of all the trips we’ve been able to announce in the last 2 years, this is truly the trip that I’m the most excited about.  I’d love for you to join us on the Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour – I’m serious when I say it will rock your world.

Furthermore, our awesome sponsors, Think Tank Photo and BlackRapid camera straps will be throwing in some pretty cool stuff and we are excited to be partnering with them on this trip.  They are such amazing companies – more on there participation in the coming days!

To get an idea of what we will be doing, I suggest you check out Matt’s site(and here) as well as our Plateau Photo Tours workshop site(more info here soon) to get a full details on this trip.  Also in the coming days my travel partner and I will be covering why we chose this route for our first Plateau Photo Tours trek of 2011.

Also, I’ll be posting here some of the pictures and some cultural points from this area over the next weeks.

 
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