The downside to organising a trip to a country under occupation by a foreign, authoritarian one party state is that that state from time to time changes it's mind on wether it wants foreigners visiting it's controversially held territory.
People travel to Tibet all the time. The only way in is a tightly controlled tour, but we were willing to take it to see this mysterious and beautiful land beyond the mountains. We booked months ago and were all set to go when last week, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) decided it would shake things up a little and rewrite the entry requirements. Apparantly they do this periodically every so often, or whenever there are signs of decent within Tibet. The new rules stated that to enter, four people with passports of the same country of issuing must travel together in and out of China. Unless Emme and I multiplied this wasn't going to happen.
Our tour cancelled and with no way of entering Tibet our plans were now in upheaval. It was stressful, but we scrambled together a new plan of action and rushed to get last minute tickets and visas. Tonight we fly to Xi'an.
And not a minute too soon either. In Kathmandu a political storm of it's own is brewing. At midnight tonight the deadline for an agreement on the New constitution is due. And with the parties currently in political deadlock, it's likely Kathmandu will be plunged into yet another round of strikes and protests and confusion over just who is running the country after the Constituent Asemmblies's mandate runs out. Thankfully we leave 45 minutes before this happens.
Off to a nice, stable one party state where power has been in the same hands for over 60 years. No protests will stop our busses or planes in China. In China, they have a way of 'dealing' with such inconvenient voices of opinion.
Here are some photos of our time in Kathmandu.
People travel to Tibet all the time. The only way in is a tightly controlled tour, but we were willing to take it to see this mysterious and beautiful land beyond the mountains. We booked months ago and were all set to go when last week, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) decided it would shake things up a little and rewrite the entry requirements. Apparantly they do this periodically every so often, or whenever there are signs of decent within Tibet. The new rules stated that to enter, four people with passports of the same country of issuing must travel together in and out of China. Unless Emme and I multiplied this wasn't going to happen.
Our tour cancelled and with no way of entering Tibet our plans were now in upheaval. It was stressful, but we scrambled together a new plan of action and rushed to get last minute tickets and visas. Tonight we fly to Xi'an.
And not a minute too soon either. In Kathmandu a political storm of it's own is brewing. At midnight tonight the deadline for an agreement on the New constitution is due. And with the parties currently in political deadlock, it's likely Kathmandu will be plunged into yet another round of strikes and protests and confusion over just who is running the country after the Constituent Asemmblies's mandate runs out. Thankfully we leave 45 minutes before this happens.
Off to a nice, stable one party state where power has been in the same hands for over 60 years. No protests will stop our busses or planes in China. In China, they have a way of 'dealing' with such inconvenient voices of opinion.
Here are some photos of our time in Kathmandu.
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| Prayer Wheels |
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| Pigeons in Durbar Square |
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| Emme Relaxes in The Garden of Dreams |
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