Tibet.  We have started the initial planning for our next trip to Tibet.  This is really my dream trip and I have been intentionally trying to not get too exciteid since it is still a ways off.  The plan now is that we will take 3 weeks off in October to make the trip.  Much like last time we will be stopping over in Seoul to visit family.  The most exciting news in the planning process is that we met a very nice Dutch couple online that was seeking out another couple to share a 4x4 to travel overland to Lhasa with.  The route that they were taking was the same route that we were interested in so this just seems like one of those great lucky moments.  Ahh...the sweet Internet!! 

 

So the only real part of the trip that we have planned is the first couple of weeks.  Here is what it roughly looks like.  We start off departing Seattle enroute to Seoul.  From there, we will spend a few days with family before departing Seoul for Kunming, China.  From Kunming, we have the option of traveling overland or flying to Zhongdian.  Our 4x4 trip to Lhasa will leave from Zhongdian and will take 7 days to arrive in Lhasa.  We have not really planned what we are gong to do from there yet...

 

We have also been doing a lot of background reading on Tibet over the last few months.  The goal is to get a good understanding of the political and cultural plight of the Tibetans.  You know, basically understand why peole have "Free Tibet" stickers on their bumpers.  I won't go into details here, but let me say that it has been eye opening and disturbing (sometimes even difficult to read).  I am sure that once you start looking into the dark underbelly of any country that there are many horrific things that they have done (e.g. the US treatment of Native Americans, the German treatment of Jews).  However, I will say that what the Tibetan people have gone through over the last 50 years is simply put, unspeakable.  It is definitely something that will weigh heavy on us while we are on our trip.

 

I will post more as we know more....