Tibet's Great Prayer Festival

Tibetans recently observed Monlam, or The Great Prayer Festival, with prayers, ritual dances, traditional foods and giant tapestry-like paintings. Ethnic Tibetans are maintaining their traditional culture while change slowly comes their way. Chinese officials have prohibited the festival in the past, and still discourage participation, and more change will be arriving soon by rail as the Qinghai-Tibet railway between China proper and Tibet is scheduled for completion three years from now. Chinese government officials are now preparing for possible trouble in March, on the 50th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising, when the Dalai Lama fled into exile, and tens of thousands of Tibetans were killed. Foreign travelers have now been banned from large parts of western Tibet until late March. Several portraits in today's entry come courtesy of photographer Hugo Teixeira. (33 photos total)

Footprints carved in wood, which locals believe were made by a worshipper who prayed at the same spot for decades, are seen at a monastery near Tongren, Qinghai province February 5, 2009. Local Tibetan monks and pilgrims gather to celebrate Monlam, or Great Prayer Festival, one of the most important festivals in Tibetan Buddhism. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause)

A crowd gathers to watch Cham Dances during ongoing festivities celebrating Monlam, or the Great Prayer Festival, at a temple in Repkong on February 5, 2009, in northwest China's Qinghai province on The Tibetan plateau. The Monlam festival was established in 1409 by Tsong Khapa, founder of the Geluk (Yellow Hat) tradition and is the greatest religious festival in Tibetan Buddhism where the performances of masked dancers, known as Cham, always attract a crowd. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

Local ethnic Tibetan villagers watch a giant "thangka", a sacred painting on cloth, being displayed on a hill outside a monastery near Tongren, Qinghai province February 3, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #

A young ethnic Tibetan monk runs to a prayer meeting in a monastery near Tongren, Qinghai province February 3, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #

A Tibetan Buddhist monk wears an elaborate head ornament during Cham Dances celebrating Monlam, or the Great Prayer Festival, at the Gomar Gompa (monastery) in Repkong on February 5, 2009, in northwest China's Qinghai province on The Tibetan plateau. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

Ethnic Tibetan monks sit on a roof at the Labrang monastery in Xiahe, which is the biggest Tibetan monastery outside Tibet, February 6, 2009, a day before the Monlam celebration, or the Great Prayer Festival. (REUTERS/Nir Elias) #

Ethnic Tibetan monks attend a ceremony at a monastery in Tongren, Qinghai province February 5, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #

A Tibetan boy, known to the locals as the "Living Buddha", is carried in a cart during a procession around a monastery in Tongren, Qinghai province February 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #

Cham Dances take place during Monlam, or the Great Prayer Festival, at the Gomar Gompa in Repkong on February 5, 2009, in Qinghai province on The Tibetan plateau. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

Lamas and Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims participate in the Buddha Thangka unfolding ceremony at the Wutun Shang Tibetan Buddhist monastery on January 30, 2009 in Tongren County of Qinghai Province, China. Thangka is a kind of Tibetan tapestry woven with gold or silk, usually with an embroidered image of Buddha on the surface. (China Photos/Getty Images) #

Pilgrims carry a giant Buddha Thangka tapestry at the Wutun Shang Tibetan Buddhist monastery on January 30, 2009 in Tongren County of Qinghai Province, China. (China Photos/Getty Images) #

A giant Thangka, a sacred painting on cloth, is unrolled for display on a hill outside a monastery near Tongren, Qinghai province February 3, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #

A monk walks in front of the Thangka tapestry outside a monastery in Tongren, Qinghai province February 2, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #

Young Tibetan monks watch a performance of religious dances at a monastery in Tongren, Qinghai province February 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #

A woman prays with prayer beads at the Nyentog Monastery, also known as Nianduhu, during celebrations for the Monlam, or Great Prayer Festival on February 6, 2009 in Repkong, on the Tibetan plateau. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

A monk who controls the crowd with a stick wears a mask while people watch religious performances at a monastery in Tongren, Qinghai province February 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #

A pilgrim gestures in prayer while walking from stupa to stupa early in the morning at Sengeshong Monastery, also knwn as Wutun, during celebrations for the Monlam Festival on February 6, 2009 in Repkong, on the Tibetan plateau in northwest China's Qinghai province. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

A young Tibetan pilgrim pauses during a religious ritual around the Labrang monastery in Xiahe, the biggest Tibetan monastery outside Tibet, a day before the Monlam celebration on February 6, 2009. (REUTERS/Nir Elias) #

A Tibetan woman spins a prayer wheel at the Kumbum Monastery outside of Xining on February 7, 2009 in northwest China's Qinghai province. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Tibetan monk performs in a mask for Cham Dances during Monlam, the Great Prayer Festival, at the Gomar Gompa in Repkong on February 5, 2009. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Tibetan prays in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet February 11, 2009. (REUTERS/Emma Graham-Harrison) #

A Tibetan Buddhist monk stands amid a crowd awaiting Cham Dances during the Monlam Festival, at the Gomar Gompa (Monastery) on February 5, 2009. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

Workers drive a front loader inside the Xianghe Tunnel, where the second phase of the Qinghai-Tibet railway from Xining to Golmud runs, on January 11, 2009 in Huangyuan County of Qinghai Province, China. The section measures 286 km (approximately 177 miles) with an investment of over 1.54 billion U.S. dollars. The construction started in September 2007 and is scheduled to be finished in 2012. The Qinghai-Tibet railway is the first rail connection between China proper and Tibet. (China Photos/Getty Images) #

A farmer walks past piers of a viaduct at the construction site of second phase of the Qinghai-Tibet railway from Xining to Golmud on January 11, 2009 in Huangyuan County of Qinghai Province, China. The portion of the railway passing through Tanggula Pass will be the world's highest railway at 5,072 meters (16,640 feet) above sea level - rail cars have a built-in personal oxygen supply to avoid altitude sickness. (China Photos/Getty Images) #

A young ethnic Tibetan pilgrim bows during a religious ritual around the Labrang monastery in Xiahe on February 6, 2009. (REUTERS/Nir Elias) #

Lamas perform a ritual during the annual Buddha Thangka unfolding ceremony at the Wutun Shang Tibetan Buddhist monastery on January 30, 2009 in Tongren County of Qinghai Province, China. (China Photos/Getty Images) #

A Tibetan woman sticks out her tongue in a customary greeting while approaching a child at the Nyentog Monastery, during celebrations for the Great Prayer Festival on February 6, 2009 in Repkong, on the Tibetan plateau. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

In the presence of public security authorities, background, monks hold a practice meeting at a temple in Lhasa, Tibet on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/JAPAN POOL, Kyodo News) #

An ethnic Tibetan pilgrim stands on a hillside overlooking part of the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe on February 6, 2009. (REUTERS/Nir Elias) #

The view from a bus, Heading towards the 4,900-meter Tro La pass on the road to Derge, Tibet in late December, 2008. (© Hugo Teixeira) #

Lobsan, a local guide, sits in the hills south of Litang, Tibet in late December, 2008. (© Hugo Teixeira) #

An Innkeeper's family at a guest house in Garze Autonomous Prefecture, Tibet, in December of 2008. (© Hugo Teixeira) #

Men and women crowd around sellers of valuable coral beads in Litang, Tibet in December, 2008. (© Hugo Teixeira) #

More links and information

Official: Tibetan areas closed to foreigners - AP, 2/12

Monlam Prayer Festival - Wikipedia entry

Tibet - NYTimes.com Topics Page

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Beautiful pics and awesome narration !
Thanks for sharing.
#27 is cool way of greeting :)

Posted by Sunil February 13, 09 01:30 PM

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Posted by maltamn February 13, 09 01:38 PM

How gorgeous!

Posted by The Baltimore Babe February 13, 09 01:42 PM

Great Pics!
# 6: Can you hear me now?

Posted by mike b February 13, 09 02:08 PM

An engaging series, so much to look at!

Posted by coda February 13, 09 02:13 PM

I need to visit them soon

Posted by Chauncey February 13, 09 02:13 PM

#9 there`s a meteor in the sky ;)

Posted by konrad February 13, 09 02:16 PM

beautiful life in asia !

Posted by reges February 13, 09 02:20 PM

Such vivid and beautiful colors, amazing pictures.

It struck me as odd to see a monk on a roof with a cell phone in #6, but after thinking about it, I'm not sure why.

Posted by Jeff February 13, 09 02:31 PM

I love #14 and #30! Thanks!

Posted by Nika February 13, 09 02:45 PM

these are beautiful. on the silly side, I think 3 is funny, there is this large group of women and this hipster dude in leather jacket right in the middle.

Posted by luca February 13, 09 02:46 PM

#16 is a work of art

Posted by Dan February 13, 09 03:33 PM

Loving these photos...... thanks so much for sharing them with us !

Posted by Aisling February 13, 09 03:33 PM

El color se torna oraci�n y plegaria, llenando esas tierras de nuevas esperanzas y alegr�a.

Posted by Jose February 13, 09 03:38 PM

Stunning Visuals.. Beautiful pictures..

Posted by Ritish February 13, 09 04:14 PM

What is the object in the sky in the picture 9 ?

Posted by oscar cadavid February 13, 09 04:19 PM

#13 is stunning ! Such a wonderful artistic homage to Buddah. I heard a story once where Buddha, as a child, walked the land. And from his footprints, lotus flowers bloomed. Kinda neat, eh ?

Posted by Matt February 13, 09 04:37 PM

#7 is beautiful. really well done

Posted by seya February 13, 09 04:48 PM

#11 - Prayer Wheels: "I...I...I...Want the knife....give it to me...please...." Sorry. Can't look at those and not hear Eddie Murphy in my head saying that. =)

Posted by jason February 13, 09 04:51 PM

Great...!.thank you brother.

Posted by Nirmal Manatunge February 13, 09 05:09 PM

#3: So many beautiful faces in the crowd!

#24: "...will be..." -- I thought that the section running through Tangula Pass at 5072m already opened a year or two ago....

Posted by Choudoufu February 13, 09 05:13 PM

Quick! Document these genuine traditional costumes and ceremonies before Chine "proper" dissolves them with the tourist crowds coming by the new railroad...

Posted by Sylvain February 13, 09 05:30 PM

#18 is great!

Posted by Carlos February 13, 09 05:39 PM

Great photos. However, the Qingzang railway opened in 2006, so something has to be wrong with your research about it. See this ticket for example: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/20060729120356_-_T27_-_Ticket.jpg/800px-20060729120356_-_T27_-_Ticket.jpg

Posted by Jacob February 13, 09 06:06 PM

Love all the different sneakers peaking out from under the boys' robes in #14
also-- had to look up about the tongue greeting (#27)-- and read that the traditional greeting shows that you are friendly/respectful (& also proves you're not a devil with a green tongue!).

Posted by ali February 13, 09 06:14 PM

$1.54Billion US #23!!!!!!! Questioning our long-term "contribution"!

Posted by Rebecca February 13, 09 06:27 PM

"A young ethnic Tibetan monk runs..."
"Ethnic Tibetan monks sit..."
What does ethnic mean in these captions? Does a non-ethnic Tibetan monk exist?

Posted by Mick Fox February 13, 09 06:39 PM

#18 is just amazing - what a face! Gives me hope.

Thanks Alan!

Posted by denheels February 13, 09 08:14 PM

"Does a non-ethnic Tibetan monk exist?"

Theoretically ethnic Chinese could become Tibetan monks. I don't think any are interested though.

Alan, these are amazing!!

Posted by Shii February 13, 09 09:08 PM

Rebecca, the US didn't pay that money! It is the EQUIVALENT of $1.54Billion US [in Chinese investment].

Good god, why do many Americans think that the entire human existence revolves around them?

Posted by Jay February 13, 09 09:44 PM

O' thank you! Again I see the world!

Posted by Judy Dement February 13, 09 10:38 PM

#17 must be amazing in the morning with a cool, dry breeze and no one around

Posted by Al February 13, 09 11:29 PM

Om mani padme hum hri.

Posted by Megan February 14, 09 12:27 AM

are those solar panels in #26 ? the evil Chinese security guy with his video camera really riles the blood - Hans dominated China is determined to create an homogeneous, ecologically destroyed "modern" super-nation - the traditional both natural and architectorial and sartorial beauty of Tibet, it's cultural timelessness and calmness, its pacifism, preserved traditions, and even Tibetan ethnicity itself the Hans are exhausting and quelching with systematic , and furious determination - in one hundred years Tibet will just be another Hans wasteland of factories, bland, grotesque cities, militarism and irreversible pollution

Posted by Danny Y. February 14, 09 01:19 AM

Sorry for not using all the adjectives above : these pictures make me sad about this wonderful culture dying under the constant and oppressive colonization of China. Tibetans are mostly happy and peaceful people, and preserving their culture should be one of our government's priorities.

http://freetibet.fr/img/siegel.jpg

Posted by TZ February 14, 09 02:23 AM

To be living, surrounded by such magnificent nature, yet unable to see due to horrendous pollution, live in poverty, suffer persecution, and be imprisoned by others who exercise power over your life, is absolutely outrageous in the given time of human history.

Posted by shooshoo February 14, 09 04:30 AM

kudos on #16

Posted by 0blivi0n February 14, 09 05:23 AM

the look on the faces of the old men in #22 are awesome. It's like they know something they know nobody else knows.

Posted by Tim D February 14, 09 06:28 AM

Really fascinating pictures. March is imminent, and I wish Tibetan friends good luck.

Posted by lmanpig February 14, 09 07:14 AM

Reserve your self righteousness about the Chinese destroying culture. How quickly we forget our ancestor's assimilation of indigenous nations in all of north and south America. But that's all right ..... we brought superior white, European civilization to the savages.

Posted by orest February 14, 09 10:32 AM

Tibet is an occupied country, these photos are propaganda for the Chinese to use to sway outsider public opinion that all is well with the Tibetans. The railway being built here, will be used to carry not only tourists and "entrepreneurs" (read as Chinese people supplanting the indigenous population) MORE gold, silver and platinum ores OUT of Tibet and carry radioactive waste IN. Tibet also contains within it's borders two very important water sources into China.
Right now and for weeks as well, the Chinese authorities have begun crackdowns on the Tibetans forcing them to celebrate the Tibetan New Year, they refused to and instead wish to make it 3 days of mourning for all those killed, imprisoned and disappeared over these many decades of occupation.
A friend of mine has returned to India to again, to march and protest and I do what I can here to help.

Posted by AJ Scaff February 14, 09 11:14 AM

That Thangka is huge, wonder how long it took to make

Posted by Tony D February 14, 09 12:11 PM

Thank you to share it and brings the world of tibet closer!

Posted by GemmaV February 14, 09 12:43 PM

Beautiful pictures!!!

Posted by Madagaskar February 14, 09 12:59 PM

great.

Posted by Goofydg1 February 14, 09 01:00 PM

Beautiful as always.

Posted by Catlin February 14, 09 01:10 PM

simplemente genial

Posted by Andrea Cabello February 14, 09 01:49 PM

Breathtaking! Thank you

Posted by Liza February 14, 09 02:09 PM

amazing pictures, i love the wood carving

Posted by Mark February 14, 09 02:42 PM

Such magnificent artistry of such an exotic people, thank you Boston Globe for the mesmerizing pictures.

As importantly I also thank you posters, for reporting facts about Tibet and China that corporate media, including the Boston Globe, are reluctant to print.

There are problems closer to home, but self-governance is a desire shared by all people.

Posted by Shangri-Last call! February 14, 09 02:51 PM

great photo,s thanks for sharing.

Posted by bob February 14, 09 03:25 PM

Nobody talked about the chinese Han repression there!

Posted by villa February 14, 09 05:21 PM

For an even more repressive situation, but one that doesn't get the Hollywood treatment look at Uighurs in Xinjiang to the north.

http://www.incendiaryimage.com/projects/china/

Posted by David Degner February 14, 09 05:23 PM

Nice, I'd like to visit China someday

Posted by anon February 14, 09 07:59 PM

beautiful people! beautiful land!
I wish they knew the giver of life, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.

Posted by Quentin February 14, 09 09:24 PM

The connection between peoples of different continents is undeniable. #2 could have been taken anywhere in Mexico on Nov 2, and #29 in Peru or Bolivia. The resemblances are uncanny...

Posted by Luigi February 14, 09 09:34 PM

These Pictures Represent The Great Prayer "FESTIVAL" So stop bringing negetivity into these post by Bringing China or the West or Religion (Quentin ) into this....

And Quentin They will never know the giver of life, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. They dont have to know him.... They Believe in Buddha.... We all believe in different entitiies... It is what it is....

People Enjoy these picture for what they are.... Learn about their culture...

We will speak about war when the post is about war!!!!!

Posted by febin February 14, 09 11:37 PM

great!

Posted by ahphyu yaung February 15, 09 07:06 AM

Awesome pictures. Thank you.

My heart cries for the Tibetans. Seeing these pictures in light of the of the Chinese oppression that Tibetans endure only makes the situation more poignant in my eyes. Not pictured here, of course, are the Chinese guards and secret police that are no doubt monitoring ever move, including those of the photographers. I pray for a free Tibet. The world deserves their freedom. What a real celebration that would be! - Seth

Posted by Seth Itzkan February 15, 09 09:49 AM

Excellent registration of people and habits of an interesting part of the world. Real quality.

Posted by Marjan Schavemaker February 15, 09 01:43 PM

Father,God we pray blessing and freedom for the Tibetans.Annointing go forth over them. Forgive us for not helping in their need and praying for them as we should. Help us to continually see them as you see them and often hear your heart to pray for them on the earth what your heart is saying.

Posted by S. Redd February 15, 09 05:53 PM

Espectaculares y hermosas

Posted by qaesar February 15, 09 06:44 PM

Amazing images of a beautiful place. These remind me of my own travels to Tibet.

Posted by Kevin Lam February 15, 09 08:35 PM

There is no need to mention "ethnic" in front of Tibetan. It sounds like Chinese government propaganda of Chinese "minority national". Tibetans are Tibetans just like French are French.

Posted by Tenzin Tsering February 15, 09 10:09 PM

those couple of kids in working clothing do not look like "pilgrims"

Posted by gudirs February 16, 09 02:05 AM

Beautiful pictures and I am sad to read about the cultural dilusion that is being attempted by the Chinese authorities by settling mainlanders and also forcing Chinese agenda in the school and elsewhere in Tibet Autonomous Region and imposing restrictions on the Tibetans. I hope and pray that the Tibet culture remains intact.

Posted by sundar February 16, 09 02:32 AM

I love it.Thank you:)

Posted by Anonymous February 16, 09 02:40 AM

Free beautiful Tibet!

Posted by GC February 16, 09 03:13 AM

cute Tibetans, they all have pinkish cheek...

Posted by LW February 16, 09 04:29 AM

really cool!

Posted by Miz x February 16, 09 06:20 AM

amazing chinese pictures. it is a big WOW!

Posted by Lucy Stone February 16, 09 06:23 AM

Amazing images of a beautiful TIBET

Posted by szymon.pl February 16, 09 06:59 AM

Interesting.. specially the pic 28 with chinese "public security authorities" (read, minders) keeping a watch and one even recording a religious meeting. The video will be perhaps sent to Bejing for "review". Now I know where North Korea's "Government" gets its' inspiration from.

Posted by Akhilesh February 16, 09 08:36 AM

Wonderful images !!!
Just to quote the Seth Itzkan�s n.70 post., i think you �re not right look at picture n.28... You can see the secret-police very well , carefully guarding the monks at the photographer of course .. Notice the chinese cameraman and sitting guy in the vicinity ! I �m coming from recent communist country(czech rep.), these are police for sure ;) !!!! Another suspicious nice shot is n.9 depecting �Cham� dances, look at the really mysterious play of light above the dancer�s head , perhaps some flying yogi ? :) I know it�s just a camera, but it looks really mysteriously , taking in consideration it was took in Tibet!

Posted by Vlasta February 16, 09 09:22 AM

My heart aches for the Tibetan people and their culture which was almost totally decimated by the Chinese. China is incredibly dangerous . Soon they will own the world.

Posted by MLT February 16, 09 11:49 AM

God bless Tibet!

Posted by Eva February 16, 09 12:11 PM

These are really inspiring pictures. They remind you of what it really means to life in spirit and harmony with the world. It certainly seems that life can be much more simple that we make it out to be! Great for sharing, thanks

Posted by Manuel Rappard February 16, 09 12:24 PM

So beautiful!! Free Tibet!

Posted by Hajar February 16, 09 12:31 PM

Thank you for posting this story!
If you are interested in Tibetan Buddhism a good book to check out is H.H. Dalai Lama - "The Art of Happiness." Highly recommended and down to earth.

The Chinese colonization of Tibet is an ongoing crisis. An incredible violation of human rights continues to take place, starting with 1.2 Million Tibetans that were killed by the Chinese occupational forces between 1951 and 1979, 1/6th of the population.

6,251 monasteries have been sacked, many of their residents killed, leaving only 8 Tibetan monasteries standing. Thanks for listening! Free Burma!

Thank you for your hearing me out on this problem.

Posted by Nigel February 16, 09 03:43 PM

Nice pictures.
I could be the cameraman in #28. I took pictures and videos like that when I traveled to Tibet. That video camera doesn't look great - police always get the best and latest models. There would be way too many police if everyone doesn't look like a monk is counted as one.

Posted by Frank February 17, 09 12:21 AM

Fantastic and inspiring images. Thank you for sharing them. I envy the photographer(s) who got the job.

Despite the obvious political situation and its mammoth injustice towards the Tibetan people, the faces, colourful traditions, and authenticity of the Tibetans in these photographs shine through. The warmth of their humanity and strength of their community is louder and, inevitably, far more important than the ugliness of the chinese government's actions. As Buddha taught, mind is life -- our thoughts determine our state of being. Uphold the positive and from this goodness will come.

Posted by jadams February 17, 09 07:06 AM

#7 That guy is amazingly gorgeous. Where can I find one in the States?

Posted by Greg February 18, 09 04:05 PM

I KNOW ABOUT THE RAILWAY AND THE CHINESE/TIBETAN CONFLICT
BUT........
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES AND THE AGONY ON SOME OF THE PHOTOS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

THESE PEOPLE ARE BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD,EVEN THEIR PLAY ON COLOUR WOULD REVIVE ANYONE..

MARG

Posted by MARGARET February 18, 09 07:43 PM

great pictures! amazing colors! beautiful TIBET!

Posted by john mateo - pililla rizal philippines February 19, 09 05:12 AM

Human Rights in Tibet!! Save Tibet!!!

Posted by Anonymous February 21, 09 10:27 AM

Felicito al fotografo

Posted by jose February 21, 09 01:51 PM

those photos great,but if you you watch carefully in those peoples face you will see how much those people are suffering under chiness rule.

Posted by Anonymous February 21, 09 11:22 PM

Very wonderful !
Big thanx!

Posted by Serjio February 23, 09 02:51 AM

What a very beautiful pictures. And it is terrible for the people of Tibet that they can not live in freedom. FREE TIBET.

Posted by Thom Wennekes February 23, 09 06:27 AM

Ive been to Tibet - and yes its as beautiful as these photos are. After Tibet no other country could impress me so much... Not a buddist myself but its really some special place. Makes you think, makes you change.

Posted by Polina February 24, 09 02:03 AM

If this guy is meant to be a news photograpger this must be considered an ordinary shoot. Very little feel for how the Tibetans live. Well shot tourist stuff really.

Posted by Max February 24, 09 04:27 PM

Welcome to China Tibet. Some areas are technically not "Tibet", though inhabited by Tibetans. Come after the sensitive period -- that is, 10-21 March 2009, the 50th anniversary of the "1959 Uprising", and anniversary of 2008 Lhasa Riots Come especially if you can to celebrate the "Day of Liberation of Million Serfs/Slaves", 28 March 2009.

No country has ever recognized Tibet as an independent country. Ask you State Department. When the Dalai Lama chose to rebel in 1959, the Chinese government liberated the one-million serfs.

Posted by MatthewTan February 24, 09 04:31 PM

what is in the sky in #9? is it a meteor?

Posted by bofo February 27, 09 12:41 AM

I was in Tibet March 2008 at the start of the demonstrations. Tibetans were arrested for voicing their feelings about their country. Arrested by Chinese police, Chinese army, Chinese secret police in the streets of Lhasa. There are no Tibetans involved in the governance of Tibet. Tibet is a Chinese police state. Yet, Tibetans carry on with their traditions and family as best they can. And as Chinese writer #103 suggests you'll find a great joy in the real Tibetan people.

Posted by Pete Kroner February 28, 09 07:04 PM

My wife and I visited the wonderful Yellow Hat Labrang Monastery several years ago while in western China, and so was delighted to see your outstanding pictures. (Did you stay at the concrete "yurts" there ? we almost froze in them).

The Tibetans are a wonderful people and it is terribly sad the way they are being dominated by the Han Chinese. Was also in Tibet proper several months ago, beautiful, as always, but overladen by Chinese political control and influence. Thanks, Robert Springer

Posted by Robert Springer March 5, 09 02:46 PM

this wonderful people and it is very very good photo and beautiful house and wonderful colour and nautre also good i am very very thanking that your sending to me keep on send the email and photo to us

Posted by pspadmana March 11, 09 04:03 AM

Nice Pictures

Posted by Jo Baatje March 19, 09 10:16 AM

Great photo,s!...

Posted by D. young Chung March 21, 09 02:57 PM

It brings me Tibet alive.
Wonderful pictures.

Posted by Karchen March 30, 09 08:20 PM

#21..... wel, what to say!!! as a tibetan in abroad never see ma home land, but i can feel the powerful picture there........ wel, wish some day i could take the place of that lady and able to be free my own soul!!!!

Posted by Anonymous October 21, 09 02:51 PM