This little monk is like a crimson fabric that blows into the Jokhang Temple, grabbing all of us with his infectious smile and lively eyes.
Nima tasselin is a very happy and harmonious person that flows out of every pore of him.
You know you're the only one he cares about when he looks at you.
This is our spiritual welcome to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
It is a bit risky for China to invite five foreign media members to Tibet without being able to review what they will publish domestically.
The invitation was carefully planned, reflecting Beijing's confidence and determination to start opening its doors to more tourism and the world's entry into Tibet --
Tourist destination.
A few days ago, our trip to Tibet began, although there was no level of enlightenment like the Jokhang Temple!
We were stunned by the disturbing feeling of jet lag and altitude.
We are five Canadian journalists, guests of the Chinese government, and invited.
What life, business and culture look like in that plateau province.
In the cold rain of a small city in Nyingchi in eastern Tibet, we bumped and landed among the mountains.
It is a small airport located on the high side of the cloud.
Finally starting our journey, we took a sigh of relief, collected our luggage and met our private bus-our tourist home and shelter-in the coming days.
We almost immediately crossed the mountain road.
Across a line of prayer flags, we drove up the higher mountains with our two flags
Currently leading suv.
The steep road is rugged and tortuous.
The more we drive, the higher we are, and finally stop in front of a Swiss.
Style The Castle, home of a local family.
Here, like many other mountain houses, they have rooms for rent to travelers.
The home is warm in color, atmosphere and hospitality.
They knew we were coming.
We are also waiting for a steaming cup of butter tea, local hard cheese and other local delicacies-a welcome to an empty stomach.
I'm the only one
Asian people can't speak this language.
Accommodation is also available.
I met my translator in Beijing a few days ago, Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Kun.
Out of five Canadians, I was invited to shoot and document what we saw and experienced.
Wherever I go, Likun is by my elbow and gives me a quiet verbal explanation of who we met, what we saw, what culture things have
Leaving the house under the open umbrella, we walked alone on the road of gravel village to explore.
I was surprised by the similarities between this Alpine village and the one I visited in Switzerland.
If it weren't for the Chinese logo or for everyone I met, I would have sworn that I was on the other side of the continent.
The village is very prosperous.
Solid houses are being built with complex and very detailed wood carvings.
The gorgeous walls block the roaming cattle outside the door, protecting the ground, including shiny vehicles and tractors.
Pride of ownership here.
At a lower altitude, we visited another village and met with farmers to observe the local agricultural production.
Plant lush fields around mountains and rocks to make effective use of the space available.
Beans, fungi and root vegetables breed and harvest in dark, fertile soil.
The connection with this land is obvious and honorable.
The land is clean, fertile and taken care of with respect to the environment.
After visiting a museum of Tibetan relics, we visited a middle school.
Before we arrived, news from foreign tourists from Canada, a delegation from the school gathered to meet us.
Before entering the Big Three-
Two students who practice English at story School officially welcomed us.
Classmates, a nineyear-
Tibetan little girl in beautiful traditional costumesyear-
The old Chinese Han boy dressed in red track and field clothes is responsible and proud of their perfect greetings.
The classroom is full of vitality.
The heated discussion prompted both hands to shoot into the air and answer the teacher's questions.
Interactive Learning is taking place in the classroom, including hi-
Technical digital whiteboards and proud Tibetan teachers.
Tibet is a province that is moving.
China is enjoying a lot of money from Beijing to speed up the pace of infrastructure construction.
The new highway being built between Linzhi and Lhasa is an example.
This modern highway will cut off the drive between the two cities and bring more people, goods and wealth to many towns along the way.
But now, we're relegated to the old road, driving 9 hours along one of the worst roads I 've ever experienced, with a broken spine.
On one occasion, our little bus looked like it was swallowed up by a huge pit, just before a hard landing in our seat, all of us were thrown into the air.
One of us was not so lucky and landed on the floor of the bus!
This highway can't come too fast!
On the half way to Lhasa, lunch is held in a roadside village, where there are many beautiful stone houses, roses in full bloom, colorful painted decorations and bright Chinese flags.
This is another feast of a central rotating platter, making sure everyone gets a taste of fresh vegetables, marinated yaks, noodles and more butter tea.
Yak is an essential animal, not only because of its muscles, but also because of its milk and dairy products.
This is an important part of Tibet's diet and a taste of the day after tomorrow.
My Asian colleague seems to like the taste very much.
Lhasa finally appeared, not exactly what I expected.
Like the landmarks in Beijing and Shanghai, Lhasa is also creating some architectural miracles.
The Hilton hotel is designed as a series of Sky-
Scratch the white triangular slices and pay tribute to the surrounding mountains, the first thing we see when we enter the city from the east.
Our time in Tibet was very short, so we spent the rest of our days exploring Lhasa.
The capital is 3,490 above sea level (11,450 feet)
One of the highest cities in the world.
This plateau is called the roof of the world ".
If you are traveling here, I suggest that you arrive in Lhasa within a few days while adjusting to the altitude.
Arriving too fast, you may feel some discomfort due to high altitude.
No matter where you come from, in the case of headache or shortness of breath, there is oxygen supplement everywhere to relieve.
This is my first time here and I only feel the elevation when I move too fast and breathe too fast at night.
This is a spectacular place worth every breath!
Our hotel Brahmaputra Grand hotel is known as the "Museum hotel" and as the name suggests, it looks like a mattress in a fully equipped Museum.
The glass box in the corridor displays artwork, and the decoration of the room complements the luxury and gloss of the wood --panelled walls.
Potala Palace is a short drive from the hotel.
In fact, it is only a short drive from almost anywhere, as the city grew up around this impressive white and red palace.
The Fifth Dalai Lama, which began construction in 1645, has since hosted monks for centuries and served as a seat in the local government.
Today's palace, with its 3. 5-
A metre thick wall is home to a few monks.
Potala Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site with the largest number of visitors to the region, with thousands of visitors every day.
From po la Palace Square in Beijing Middle Road to the top, you can see the long low steps through 1,000 rooms and other temples.
As mentioned earlier, for tourists who are not used to altitude, walk slowly, get water, and set aside enough time to rest-the promotion is worth it.
Not far from Potala Palace is the much smaller Jokhang Temple and part of the UNESCO Potala Palace Historical Complex.
For thousands of pilgrims in China, this temple is the spiritual home of Tibetans.
Around the walls of the temple, there are many worshippers who have traveled long distances, and some of them have come to the Holy Land for two years to pay tribute to them.
It is here that five of our Canadian journalists truly felt and experienced the enlightenment of Tibet.
Nima Selin, a middle-aged monk, is said to only give private tours to visiting heads of state.
Today, we are fortunate enough to meet this person and feel the energy and infected spirit that inspires his bright eyes and lovely smiles.
You may not see Nima when you come to Lhasa, but you will feel the energy of this really special place.
It's a place to spend time, explore and observe.
Walking along the market and shops is a perfect transition from Spirit
Charge the morning fee to the more secular business brewed!
Barley beer is a large brewery that produces high-quality beer.
There is no doubt that this is the ideal location for the brewery.
The water used for beer brewing comes from the original water sources in the mountains and plateaus of Tibet.
Walking through this modern facility is like a mission-controlled tour at NASA.
Spotlessly clean, shiny stainless steel and high
Technology, brought from Germany, where they know two things about producing quality beer.
If you think Tibet is technically backward, you are wrong.
The visit to Tibet University introduced us to the study of saving Tibetan language and integrating it into computer language, smartphone applications and games.
From ancient Tibetan texts and documents archived in the library to manual
To protect and protect this aspect of Tibetan culture, Beijing is providing research funding to the university.
Before the end of our trip to Tibet, we were introduced to traditional treatments and herbs for Tibetan medicine.
To fully understand the links between herbs and medicines and culture, we visited a traditional Tibetan medicine facility to see, touch and smell a wide variety of remedies.
Most of them are plants.
Used in hot tea and tea to help with digestion, liver function and other diseases.
The other side of medical care is those who take care of patients.
In the suburbs of Town
The Private Clinic in Losang Dorje serves patients with various diseases.
He did something unusual in the clinic.
He has rejected any financial aid from the government and invested his money in building the clinic in the way he imagined.
There are many treatment rooms in a quiet green leaf compound.
Quiet location.
As part of the healing process, this is a place where healing is acceptable and silence is appreciated. Dr.
Dorje has harvested and processed a lot of his own medicines.
Pottery pots and pressure cookers with walls.
In some rooms, large wooden bathtubs suitable for herbal soaking look more like home in the Alpine spa!
All of this is the doctor's vision and dedication to focus on healthy uncompromising
He is a patient who believes in the healing power of Tibetan medicine.
Before we left the clinic, we were asked if we would like to stay for stress-relieving treatment, which would take only two or three hours.
Do we all look like this?
Did he notice our tired face?
When I think we can all relax with some traditional Tibet, I speak for all of us!
This will be the perfect way to end the overload of culture, agriculture, education and business education, and then return to the crazy deadline life at home.
One thing is clear. Tibet did not see our last one.
We are looking forward to opening up a wider tourist gate for the hospitality and cultural pride of Tibet.
For information about visiting the Tibet autonomous region of China, please visit www. tourismchina.
Ca, or call the China National Tourism Administration of Toronto, tel: 416-599-
6636, or fax to 416-599-6382.