The year it was announced that Beijing had won the rights to host the 2008 Olympics, he and I had, on opposite sites of the world, planned to visit Tibet in Summer.
However, protests around Mount Everest against China's lackluster human rights records resulted in Tibet being closed off to foreigners - like us. I then managed to rent a 4WD and a driver to explore the border area outside of the Chinese-enforced 'Tibet Autonomous Region', but needed other travelers to split the cost.
One post on the LonelyPlanet forum, and I received several replies. My future husband, then yet unknown, was one of the first few who responded. Ultimately, four of us, all solo travelers, banded together to split the cost and explore the isolated region.
It proved to be the most amazing trip of my life - not only did I witness some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, experience the warmth & generosity of a pious and unassuming people, I found the one with whom my own heart, mind, body and soul resonates.
In the least expected places, the least expected times, I found, wandering the harsh Tibetan plateau alone - my American.
We stopped for pictures at a 4,700m (15,420 feet) pass while driving through Tibet.
Left, in blue jacket is our Tibetan driver, Gungpo, and in brown, our newfound Israeli friend, one of the 4 travelers in our 4WD. -- Photo by my husband. Read also his travel blog.
The year it was announced that Beijing had won the rights to host the 2008 Olympics, he and I had, on opposite sites of the world, planned to visit Tibet in Summer.
However, protests around Mount Everest against China's lackluster human rights records resulted in Tibet being closed off to foreigners - like us. I then managed to rent a 4WD and a driver to explore the border area outside of the Chinese-enforced 'Tibet Autonomous Region', but needed other travelers to split the cost.
One post on the LonelyPlanet forum, and I received several replies. My future husband, then yet unknown, was one of the first few who responded. Ultimately, four of us, all solo travelers, banded together to split the cost and explore the isolated region.
It proved to be the most amazing trip of my life - not only did I witness some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, experience the warmth & generosity of a pious and unassuming people, I found the one with whom my own heart, mind, body and soul resonates.
In the least expected places, the least expected times, I found, wandering the harsh Tibetan plateau alone - my American.
We stopped for pictures at a 4,700m (15,420 feet) pass while driving through Tibet.
Left, in blue jacket is our Tibetan driver, Gungpo, and in brown, our newfound Israeli friend, one of the 4 travelers in our 4WD. -- Photo by my husband. Read also his travel blog.
posted by mrspaetz 4 months ago