So I'm finally making my first blog post only 2 and a half months in... Sorry...
Before you hear about me I'd just like to mention that I hope you are all well at home and the recovery process is well on the way for those affected by the floods, cyclones, fires and earthquakes... It has been crazy all around the world and I have been thinking of you and trying to following the news when possible.
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Since I left home just after Christmas I have travelled through Cambodia, Laos, China and I am now in Nepal. The trip has been pretty awesome and I have met some great people both foreigners and locals along the way. Cambodia and Laos were a little rushed and I mainly stuck to the main tourist areas. While in China I had the opportunity to visit some places that see little if any tourists with the last few weeks of my time there was definitely the highlight of my trip thus far.
The last few weeks I spent in the Tibetan region of Amdo which today stretches through parts of Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan provinces. The area is still very much Tibetan although China is definitley making its presence known constructing multi-storey buildings and dwellings in their villages. Many of the locals in this region still dress in traditional attire and between towns you see them walking for hundreds of kilometres prostrating on pilgramages to religious sites.
While in the area I was fortunate enough to meet a Tibetan guy named Tsering and through him I managed to spend time in a monastery in a remote region of Sichuan that sees very little if any foreigners and also in his home village with his parents and family. I have a lot more to tell about my time in this area and I'll post it as soon as I can.
You can see my time in Cambodia
here or by clicking on the Cambodia heading at the top of the page. I'll be posting Laos hopefully tomorrow.
The next two weeks I'll be at Kopan Monastery for a course after which I hope to upload photos and storeys from China and Tibet before heading to Batase Village on the 7th of April for some volunteer work.
My Nepalese number is +977 9813 522 979 which I'll be on for the next three months while I'm here.
All the best, take care.
Russell
