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AC Adapters - Know Where You Are Going!
So you’ve got the plane tickets, packed all the things that you need, but did you know that if you are going to another continent - or even just another country - you may need ac adapters to plug in any electrical items you may have packed. Without...
Balloon Flying in Thailand
Our trip to Thailand had been long awaited, originally planned
for the winter of 94/95. My wife Karin had bought the maps and
books and even packed; we were off. The balloon was ready at
Thunder and Colt with a heavy duty basket tailor made for...
Important Things to Remember About Hotels and Traveling when Going to Asia
When you are planning a vacation, what do you imagine? Vacations are various things to various individuals. Some like to shop around the town while quite a few others would like to pass the whole trip chilling at the hotel pool. If you are like me,...
The British Museum: Home of British Culture
Copyright 2005 S Wander
London is a town filled with museums of all sorts: large and
small, gaudy and elegant, historical and just fun. Of them all,
though, the British Museum, located in the Bloomsbury district
of the borough of Camden,...
The State of the Reef
Coral reefs around the world are under siege - FACT. Threats from over-fishing, urban coastal encroachment and rising sea temperatures are destroying sensitive corals and devastating the marine life they support.
According to The United...
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En Route For Tibet
North of the Himalayas, in western China, lies the self-governing land of Tibet. The Tibetan Plateau is the highest populated region on the planet and stands at an average elevation of 16,000 feet. To the north lie the imposing Kunlun Shan mountains, providing a natural border.
At one of the last great outposts is the isolated Argin Shan Reserve, the largest nature reserve in China. The large herds of hooved animals present in this wilderness have led to its nickname 'Serengeti of Asia'. The snow leopard is a frequent visitor to the reserve but unfortunately excessive hunting means it is now an endangered species.
Such imposing platformed territory offers source to some of the most powerful rivers in Asia including the Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Salween and Mekong. The Yangtze twists and turns through the broad green valleys flowing eastwards across China and ultimately the East China Sea.
Many folk of Tibet are nomads and move their entire families around the country. Skin tents are popular living domains allowing easy departure should circumstances dictate. Rural life reigns in Tibet and starkly contradicts many westerners lifestyles. Religion is practised passionately with many a young boy aspiring to become a Buddhist monk.
Eager to preserve their nomadic way of life, summer chores must be completed by fall before the severe winter weather prevents passage through the mountains.
The mountain trails are fundamental to trading and pattern a working myriad of paths during the more clement months of the year.
Much of Tibet is barren land scattered with modest neighbourhoods labouring arduously to earn a livelihood from the land. This is compensated some part however by the beautiful scenery in which these nomadic folk live. Soaring peaks bathe in cloud as colossal mountains command the horizon throughout this noble ground. In this pollution-free atmosphere the pure, brisk air permits unhindered panorama for miles on every side.
The brief spring and summer months bring an explosion of colour. Greenery is rife as efflorescence emerge almost overnight to complement the vivid territory. The outbreak of bloom however is short lived. The onset of winter blankets all in a sheet of white, as snow and ice mask the landscape.
Uncompromising winter months bring much Tibetan activity to a pause, as the elements seize a grip of the environment. The brief term of mild weather is crucial to the livelihood of the farmers. Livestock must be put to pasture and fattened up in time for winter.
About the Author
Steven Cronin writes articles, poetry and short stories predominantly concerning travel as well as issues that influence the world in which we live. For further literature visit http://www.sargas.co.uk
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