h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Tibet Tourism - A2182862
Author: John-the-gardener - h2g2 Friends of Tibet (A2170982) - U33262

I hadn't intended this as an Edited Entry. It was originally just a bit for h2g2 Friends of Tibet. But then I thought, well, why not?

And indeed why not.

All good advice, not only in Tibet, but in many other countries where the tourism is impacting the economy.

Thanks, McKay.

Good entry

Having never been there, or to China, is it easy to tell the difference between the Tibetan and Chinese vendors? Is it obvious from appearance and mode of dress, or is it a little more complex than that?

I've never been there either. I think it should be pretty obvious to tell by appearance and language. I suppose there are instances where one could be fooled; but I think tourists who are trying to buy Tibetan would get it right more times than not. The key, I think, would be to buy souvenirs and so on, as much as possible, from businesses which are operating outside official state sponsorship.

Interesting entry, John. Does the taking off of the hat apply to both men and women?

I don't think you'll be allowed to link to the h2g2 Friends of Tibet as it's not an Edited Entry, though.

As far as I know, hatlessness is non gender specific.

No, I know the link to Friends will have to go, but I leave it in as this version is a working part of the h2g2 Friends of Tibet (A2170982) machinery. The edited version, should there be one, will have to get by without.

JTG

Very fine entry I continue to find it very noble how you are raising awareness of Tibet through h2g2

Thanks, Jodan.

I've just added a Friends List to h2g2 Friends of Tibet - A2170982. It looks pretty puny with only three names in at the moment (hint).

F1714369?thread=381651

JTG

Nice entry JTG

Have posted to be added to list of friends

typo near the end: alter > altar

Pimms

I agree with a lot of this - I haven't been to Tibet but I talked with some people who did when I was in Nepal. Some additional points:

You shouldn't underestimate the difficulties of trying to visit Tibet independantly. The Chinese government wants tourists to move around in large groups, and you will find it difficult to break away from those groups. If you go from Nepal, your travel agent may promise you various things, but you're still likely to find yourself mainly on a bus.

Visas - visas for Tibet are complicated and you need to be careful, apparently.

Giving presents. Another option for this is to bring something like pencils or balloons and give them to a local schoolteacher for controlled distribution. This is what we did in Nepal.

Buying antiquities. Don't buy any real antiquities (prayer books, original statues etc) but it is OK to buy souvenirs - you can buy a basic hand held prayer wheel or a monk's hat if you want - even if it looks old - there are millions in circulation.

Did you mention spinning the prayer wheels clockwise in the religious bit? Can't remember.

sprout

Thanks, Pimms. I'll get that changed . I've added your name to the friends list. Thanks also for adding the h2g2 Friends of Tibet button to your PS.

Thanks, sprout; those are good points, especially regarding the difficulty of breaking away from groups. I probably did make that seem an easier thing to accomplish than it may turn out to be.

JTG

Nothing to add, only I spotted one wee typo, which no doubt you would have picked up later (in the Travel Advice section)

>>The folloing is a brief overview - following

Thanks, Sho. I've read the darn thing umpteen thousand times without seeing it.


JTG

re post 5 do you think you could work that in, about intending to support Tibetan rather than Chinese vendors. Certainly I would like slightly more info on how to achieve the advice given.

Pimms

Sure thing.

The only comment to add here is that we'll have to dock the link to the Friends of Tibet for the Edited version, but that doesn't stop anyone from posting a link in the Conversations below it once it hits the Front Page..

... which it will probably do in about two months, on current reckoning, as this is most definitely going in!

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Thanks, Jimster.

Excellent!