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Galsang medok, a symbol of Tibet
Misled by ambiguous information on the internet, many foreign tourists have mistaken some facts about Tibet. In this post, we’ll clear all those misunderstandings up, including Tibetan people, Galsang flower, Tibet altiplano red, Tibet winter, Tsangyang Gyatso, prostration pilgrimage, palm-up gesture, altitude sickness, Tibetan body language, etc.
1. Tibetan People and Local Security
Misunderstanding A : Tibet is not so safe to stay. The locals are ignorant and barbarous.
Misunderstanding B : All the Tibetans have faith in Buddhism and they are the most innocent people on earth.
Fact : Believing in Tibetan Buddhism, the vast majority of Tibetan people are much simpler and friendlier than other region. But like any other place in the world, bribes and extortions also exist in this pure land. In terms of public security, you can take it easy. Lhasa is one the safest place in China.
2. Galsang Medok
Misunderstanding : Galsang medok is cosmos bipinnata.
Fact : Galang, in Tibetan language, means happiness, and medok refers to flower. Thus Galsang medok (Galsang flower) is also named as happy flower in Chinese. As for Tibetans, all the nameless wildflowers can be called as Galsang medok. However, what Galsang flower exactly is still hangs in doubt. As the city flower of Lhasa, Galsang medok symbolizes love and auspiciousness.
3. Tibet Altiplano Red
A little Tibetan girl with altiplano red in cheeks
Misunderstanding : The ultraviolet in Tibet is so strong that we must go back home with altiplano red.
Fact : There is no deny the fact that people are likely to get sunburnt under the brilliant sunshine. But the real reason for altiplano red does NOT rest in ultraviolet ray. Due to the long-term oxygen deficit, residents on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau often have angiotelectasis and contrafluxion, especially in cheeks and lips. Therefore, it’s common to see Tibetans in altiplano red. If you take preventive measures, like wearing sunhat and sunscreen, it won’t change your skin color in a short-time Tibet tour.
4. Tibet Winter
Our clients were enjoying a wonderful Tibet winter tour.
Misunderstanding : It’s not suitable to travel Tibet in winter for its chilliness.
Fact : Tibet in winter is not so cold as you thought. Thanks to thin air and high altitude, you can still enjoy cozy sunshine in the daytime. Lhasa is a good case in point. The daily temperature here is around ten degree centigrade, making it much warmer than some Chinese northern cities. Besides, with tourists fading away, you would encounter flocks of pilgrims prostrating in front of Jokhang Monastery, taking Barkor kora, etc. And you can get better discounts on all kinds of fees in this slack season. See more at Tibet winter tour.
5. Tsangyang Gyatso
Misunderstanding : “That day, that month, that year…” is a line from Tsangyang Gyatso’s poetry.
Fact : “That day, that month, that year…” is the lyric in a song named Believer rather than Tsangyang Gyatso’s poem, let alone Canyangcuo love song. Tsangyang Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama, had undergone through ups and downs in his life. He was also one of the great folk poets, creating many classic poems. If you want to know more about him, Secret Gospel of Tsangyang Gyatso and the Most Beautiful Reunion in the Secular World must be helpful.
6. Best Time to Visit Tibet
Sichuan-Tibet highway offers you the best at autumn.
Misunderstanding : June to July is the best period to travel Tibet.
Fact : With an total area of 1,200,000 square kilometers, Tibet has all kinds of topography except ocean. Every place has completely different scenery in each season, so it’s hard to say which one is the best season to visit Tibet. Generally speaking, Tibet is a great summer resort for its warm days and cool nights. But with summer holidays coming, Lhasa is packed with swarms of Chinese students and tourists. Meanwhile, the rainy season starts from June and more landslides might happen. Actually, when to go to Tibet totally depends on your starting point, travel budget, personal interest. As autumn sets in, we recommend you to travel to Tibet from Sichuan Highway for scenery along G318 will reach its peak in the middle of October.
7. Tibetan Buddhist Prostration
Tibetans were making prostration to Lhasa.
Misunderstanding : They are so backward to kowtow for self-blessing.
Fact : Three-step kowtow is an important expression of devotion to Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan pilgrims prostrate themselves by lying face-down on the ground and stretching out their arms and legs so as to earn merit. Most of they would spend several years making pilgrimages to Lhasa and other religious centers, completing the entire distance in a series of prostrations. They are neither fool nor superstitious. Here I don’t want to dig deeper into Tibetan Buddhism but tell you that they did this for the sake of all the living beings. It covers all the animals and human beings on earth, of course including you. When you know the truth, will you still laugh at their ignorance?
8. Palm Up in Tibet
Misunderstanding : Tibetans are very poor and palm up means begging for money.
Fact : Palm up is a kind of Tibetan etiquette gestures. If you are invited to Tibetan family, the hostess must treat you with bowls of yak-butter tea. You can use this gesture to express thanks to their hospitality and decline refilling more politely. When Rinpoche or Kampo puts their palm up in religious activities, it means that the event got a happy ending and you can leave now.
9. Altitude Sickness
Misunderstanding : As long as i have done enough exercise, i would be immune to attitude sickness.
Fact : Altitude sickness is not bound with physical strength but the capacity of blood transporting oxygen. Most visitors to Tibet would have mild symptoms such as headache, tinnitus, asthma, sleeplessness and so on. It may disappear in the following days, or get worse to vomit, nausea, diarrhea, etc. If severe symptoms happened, you are strongly advised to go to hospital and get immediate medical treatment.
10. Tibetan Body Language
It’s quite natural for Tibetans to hold hands while chatting.
Misunderstanding A : It’s good to show our love by touching a Tibetan child’s head.
Misunderstanding B : If Tibetan men or women go hand-in-hand, they must be homosexual.
Fact : In Tibetan customs, touching heads is regarded as the sacred action. Only Lamas and Rinpoches are qualified to do that. So please remember not to touch their heads casually. And passionate Tibetans often take the initiative to shake hands with you. Usually they would hold your hands with their left hand and clap by right hand. This behavior is often mistaken by first-time travelers as homosexuality or sexual harassment. However, it has nothing to do with age, gender, etc. As long as they think you are a good person, they would hold your hands firmly and show you around with great pleasure. Don’t feel surprised or uncomfortable for their friendliness.
As the old saying goes, seeing is believing. Only by walking into Tibet and placing yourself in the atmosphere could you really get in touch with true Tibetan culture. Just feel free to contact us for more info.
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