Americans Katy and Moge made their interesting experiences in Tibet into the TV newsreel "Tibet Diary," which has won two awards in the U.S. national mainstream newswork. (Screenshot Source: CCTV.com)
Katy and Moge, two young people from the United States paid a two-week visit to Tibet not long ago. Back home, they made their interesting experiences, more important, subtle changes of their mind, into the TV newsreel "Tibet Diary."

The newsreel has won two awards in the nation's mainstream newswork.

Now, let's listen to what they have to say.

Moge (graphic designer):

"I want to give some advice to people who visit Tibet: open your mind and cast aside your connatural concept on Tibet."

"Before going there, I felt that Tibet's getting independence was right and proper. After talking with many local Tibetans, I don't feel that Tibet needs to be independent from China. And I don't think the vast majority of them hope for Tibet's independence, either. "

Katy (video game promoter):

"When talking with a Tibetan for the first time, I heard an interesting point from him. He said that the help and financial assistance from the rest part of China to Tibet are indeed beneficial... I'm glad that such words could be heard directly from an ordinary Tibetan, neither from a Tibetan nor Han official. It was really valuable."

"I have learnt new things there. The Tibetan Buddhism has five sects and the Yellow Sect of the Dalai Lama is just one of them. So many Tibetans may be uninterested in Dalai Lama's alleged 'political freedom.' This is what I cannot hear in America. It's absolutely worthwhile for me to study in this region. "

"...Anyway, I think the Tibetan ethnic culture and people's living style should be preserved, as well as those things representing themselves and their own personalities. I hope that they could find ways to keep such things energetic when they are merging into China's mainstream."

Trip to Tibet: as mysterious as the region itself

As to any new place, everyone has his/her own imagination.

 
Photo shows the view of the Potala Palace at dusk. (Photo Source: 51tibettour.com)

With reality distorted by irresponsible media reports and the so-called "Free Tibet Campaign," Moge and Katy felt but obscure, confused or even scared before they started.

Moge decided to explore the riddling destination. He consulted some friends who had ever been to Tibet. What he saw on their faces was "a kind of delightful dreamlike expression," which was enough to inspire him to go.

"Why do I choose to go to Tibet?" Kety asked herself time and again. In the past six years, she was living a routine life as an office lady. The repeated boring life pace, plus the first-ever pressure from house loaning, made this young lady almost slip into depression. She wanted to have a good relax, to be close to nature. Tibet is an ideal choice.

However, till the previous evening before setting off, they could not imagine how this plateau would be like. What they would see, hear, or encounter? All this still remained unknown.

Tashilhunpo Monastery and children in the streets

After an eleven-hour flight and eight-hour drive, the two youths from San Francisco arrived in southwestern Tibet's Xigaze Prefecture via Lhasa. The Tashilhunpo Monastery was their first site.

 
Screenshot shows Moge with Tibetan children. (Source: CCTV.com)

At the first sight of the Xigaze's larggest monastery, also the permanent residence of the Panchen Lamas, Moge was completely conquered by the magnificence of its architectures and frescos. "That was really amazing!" he said.

Especially when looking up the statue of Qamba Buddha, he could feel a strong shock from his innermost heart. "Had this been the only thing I would have seen in Xigaze, it's worthwhile for me to cost eight hours to come here," Moge added.

In the following morning, they had to change their schedule of that day due to a heavy rain. Even so, travel in the streets gave them another enjoyment. Craftsmen making silver accessories, children playing with strings, vendors selling groceries and drivers riding pedicabs... All were full of a flavor of life.

"Living in the city for long almost drives me crazy…" In a grocery store, Moge took a whim for singing aloud with guitar. The surrounding crowd was amused to laughter by his funny performance.

 
Screenshot shows the Potala Palace recorded in the "Tibet Diary." (Source: CCTV.com)

The most impressive for him was the billiards, three yuan for three rounds. Of course he did not attach to this game because of the low price but because of those children viewing him play, itching to try.

"They were very active to give me suggestion. 'Hit this one! Hit that one! Each of them wanted to play for me, just like joining in a team event. Aha! That was so happy to stay with them. I really would like to take them all back home!"

At that time, Katy was busy with taking photos for those children swarming around to see if they themselves were photogenic.

Yumbulagang Palace more like a cozy family

Their travel in southeaster Tibet's Shannan Prefecture was the tightest-scheduled: Yumbulagang Palace, Trandruk Temple, Tombs of Tibetan Kings and Samye Monastery. Each site offered them a brand-new feeling.

As for them, the Yumbulagang Palace was much more like a snug family, in which lived Songtsan Gambo and his two princess wives over thousand years ago.

The Trandruk Temple, elaborate in style, boasts a large number of exquisite frescos feasting their eyes. And the tombs of Tibetan Kings are unexpectedly as large as a small mountain.

The dreamlike delightful expression

Having completed the trip in Xigaze, Moge and Katy began their discovery in Lhasa, renowned for the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and Street Barkhor.

Screenshot shows Katy and Moge in Street Barkhor, Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Source: CCTV.com)

As they said, "the beauty of this grand palace is beyond all praise." Standing on the roof of the Jokhang Temple, they still could not help gazing at the view of Potala in a distance.

In the Jokhang Temple, Katy spent a long time in the Sutra Hall, listening to the lamas reciting Buddhist scriptures. A little lama, having noticed her puzzled look, made faces to her from time to time in order to cheer her up. At that moment, the young lady was touched. She responded to the little boy with a sincere smile.

In Street Barkhor, the hub of economic, cultural and commercial activities, they felt an atomosphere of harmony and vitality of the city. There, they collected a variety of tourist souvenirs rich in Tibetan features and enjoyed a tacit understanding beyond the language.    

    (Tibet Tour contributed to the story.)