The journey to Tibet was surreal even before it started.
チベットへの旅は出発前からシュールだった。
One needs a special permit to visit Tibet. To get the permit, a Chinese visa has to be obtained beforehand. Visa application requires a full itinerary with hotel confirmation. However, if the itinerary includes Tibet, they will not issue you a visa.
チベットに入るには特別な許可が必要。許可取得には中国の査証が必要。査証申請には旅行日程とホテルコンファーメーションが必要。 ところが、旅行日程にチベットが入っていると査証が下りない。
Successfully out of the Catch-22 situation, we flew from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa, to Chendu and to Lhasa. In Tibet, we travelled on land from Lhasa to Gyangtse, to Shigatse and back to Lhasa.
キャッチ22的状況を無事脱出し、ジョハネスバーグからアディスアベバ、成都、そしてラサに飛ぶ。チベット内ではラサ、ギャンツェ、シガツェ、ラサと陸路で旅した。
What struck me most was, sadly, not Bhuddist monasteries with hundreds of years of history, beautiful people in traditional clothes, houses painted with bright colours or breathtaking landscape, but the tightness of security, represented by ubiquitous CCTV (even in tourist buses!) and strong police presence. Big Brother is watching everyone, everywhere.
一番印象に残ったのは、残念ながら数百年の歴史を持つ寺院でも、民族衣装に身を包む美しい人々でも、カラフルな家々でも、息を呑むような自然でもなく、警備の厳しさだった。町中が監視カメラと警察官に覆われているよう。観光客用バスの中にまで、監視カメラがあった。「ビッグ・ブラザー」の目がいたるところで光っている。
The sense of surreality was enhanced by the large number of Chinese tourists travelling en mass.
シュール感を更に高めたのは、中国人団体客の群れ。
The Potala Palace, the former residence of Dalai Lama, is a major tourist attraction, with 7,000 to 9,000 visitors a day (according to our local guide), most of whom are from China. Tickets have to be booked in advance and each group is allocated only 50 minutes. The entrance was chaotic – long queues, frustated, angry and aggressive people, lots of shouting and shoving. The serenity and spirituality of the palace that one would expect from photographs in guidebooks and coffee table books was nowhere in reality.
例えば、かつてダライ・ラマが住んでいたポタラ宮は現在観光名所。地元ガイドによると、1日7千人から9千人の観光客が訪れる。その殆どが中国人団体客。入場券は事前予約する必要があり、決まった時間から50分しか中にいることができない。入り口には長蛇の列。イラついた人々が怒鳴り押し合う。ガイドブックなどの写真から感じる静寂さや崇高さを、現実のポタラ宮で経験することはできなかった。
Probably the best time to visit Tibet is winter, when there are much fewer tourists.
チベットを訪れるのは観光客が少ない冬がよいかも。（寒いけど。）
Big Brother and mass tourism aside, I loved the bright colours of buildings, snow-capped mountains, clear blue sky and crisp air, ladies with pangden (a colorfully striped, woven wool apron) and long braids. Yak and Tibetan Mastiff, which looks like long-haired bear, were very special too!
ビッグ・ブラザーと団体観光客はさておき、明るい色を多用した建物、頂上に雪が残る山、澄み切った青い空とひんやりすがすがしい空気、女性たちの長い三つ編みとパングデン（縞模様のエプロン）などは心に残った。長毛の牛「ヤク」と長毛のクマのような犬「チベット・マスチフ」も動物好きにはたまらない！
Here are some photographs from my trip.
チベット旅行の写真を以下シェアします。
Lhasa River. Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Tower. Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Pillar. Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Butter lamps traditionally burn clarified yak butter. Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Door. Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Miamchi (Tibetan half-human, half-bird creature) on rooftop. Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Puppy in jewelley shop. Octagon Street, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Gate. Octagon Street, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Old lady walking alone. Octagon Street, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Photo gallery. Octagon Street, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Family in front of traditional garment shop. Octagon Street, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Praying in front of Jokhong Temple. Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Tricycle taxi. Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Fabric shop. Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Red and white wall. Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Window. Potala Palace, Lhasa, September 2018
Rooftop. Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Clouds. Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Two men resting. Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
How far and how long have these female pilgrims been travelling in prostration? Outside Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Many old Tibetans wear what looks like a bush hat. Outside Potala Palace. Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Praying. Outside Potala Palace, Lhasa, September 2018
Cheerful-looking ladies with steady steps. Outside Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Toddler on the back. Outside Potala Palace, Lhasa, September 2018
Offerings. Near Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Praying. Near Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Window. Norbulinka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Walls and flowers. Norbulinka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Moss on roof. Norbulinka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Grass on roof. Norbulinka Palace, Lhasa, September 2018
Rooftop. Norbulinka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Pillar. Norbulinka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Toddler and dog. Sera Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Conversation with a yak. Yamdrok Lake, on the way to Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Boys playing soccer. Kharola Glacier, on the way to Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Tourist Service Center. Kharola Glacier, on the way to Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Prayer flags. Above a dam on the way to Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Green in the background is the water in the dam, not the sky. On the way to Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Mountain goat. On the way to Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Prayer flags on top of hill. Palcho Monastery, Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Window. Palcho Monastery, Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
In case of fire. Palcho Monastery, Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
The lady lost balance and almost fell but was still giggling, obviously having fun with friends. Palcho Monastery, Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
This short gentleman was somehow very memorable. Palcho Monastery, Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Joints. Palcho Monastery, Gyangtse, Tibet, September 2018
Puppy. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
The Gelugpa order of Tibetan Bhuddism, headed by Dalai Lama, is often called the Yellow Hats for obvious reasons. These hats are worn during ceremonies. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
White building against dark blue sky. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
Monks decorating passage. Ephemeral beauty. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
The young woman’s serenity stands out in tourism madness. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
Piggybacking. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
Monk walking between red and white. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
Monk on the mobile. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
Rolling out carpets. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
Receiving a divine message? Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
As I was taking a photo of the gate, a monk opened it from inside. He looked surprised and then embarrassed. I smiled. He smiled back. Tashilumbu Monastery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
Bell. Tashilumbu Monestery, Sigatse, Tibet, September 2018
Once again, Kharola Glacier. On the way back to Lhasa, Tibet, September 2018
Masako Osada Visual Arts 
I really enjoyed reading and seeing the pictures you shared. Thank you
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