Tibet

It is official; we received our signed, sealed, red ink permit that allows us to visit Tibet Tuesday, June 17th, delivered by messenger just in the nick of time.  We have already made our airline reservations for Friday, June 20 just after the last day of classes. 

The information on the Website was very clear that the permit was the most important part of traveling to Tibet.  If you did not have the official government authorized permit when you went to the airport you would not be given a boarding pass. We submitted the pile of paperwork for our permit, our passport, Chinese Visa, letter of invitation from the CCP and SCUT verification that we were residing in China and working at the University.  We were told last Friday that it was approved and would be sent by messenger to arrive either Saturday or Sunday; by Tuesday when no permit had arrived we were beginning to panic.  A few phone calls and tracking the delivery trail miraculously the messenger shows up with the permit in hand.  What a huge relief. 

We feel very fortunate to be able to travel to Tibet, we have learned about Tibet, and the political and religious struggles that have plagued the area for about 20 years.  We will leave on Friday, June 20 from Guangzhou directly to Lhasa, then to the Everest base camp and last to Katmandu, Nepal.  I don’t expect this to be a restful trip but rather lots of hiking and walking with not much western food available to provide strength and encouragement.  We will not have communication with phones or email so it will be a remote exciting adventure.