On the water

Once out of the cities, life became very simple over in Tibet. We would rise around 7:30, have a couple cups of tea, some delicious breakfast, and shake off the wet kayaking gear. We never had to search hard for a river to paddle or good camping spots as there is plenty of land and lots of open spaces. It seemed every time we thought we were in the middle of no where local children, villagers, or traveling pilgrims would poke their head out of the bushes and greet us with a warm smile. The people of Tibet truly are a warm and friendly people offering a nice contrast to the frigid and scary rivers.

As the trip came to an end our largest mission the Parlung Tsangpo became our daily battle. We started at Rawok Tso, a high Alpine lake in the eastern ranges of the Himalayas. The river intensified in volume each day testing us the entire way. We finished 12 days later near the small Tibetan village of Tong Mai at the Confluence of the Yiong Tsangpo where the two rivers join dropping rapidly into the apex of the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo.
Keep an eye on www.2at.com for the full length HD DVD available Summer 07

Life on the Road in Tibet

Leaving Lhasa we finally got a feel of normal everyday life of the Tibetan people. Large grain farms, open yak and goat graizing lands, and other forms of agriculture dominate the norm for the average tibetains. While industry and infastructure are on the rise in Tibet, the old way of life is still prevelant once out of most cities. These are some of the images from the road, river and our camps along the rivers of easter Tibet.

Tibet Bejing and Lhasa

Here are some photos from our recent adventures to the mystical roof of the world, Tibet. We travel throughout Tibet for 7 Weeks on a Kayaking expedition including the First Full Descent of the Parlung Tsangpo a 210 kilometer stretch of river flowing into the Apex of the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo, the biggest river in Tibet

Before we could completely sample the delights of Tibet, we stalled out in Beijing and got a taste of some good ole city liven! Military official Tienman Square Bejing

Eden Sinclair (left) and Dave Kwant try to fit in whilst in the Forbidden City of Beijing.

LHASA BOUND

Finally after three of the longest days in the world we left Beijing and Arrived in Lhasa. 6 months of planning saving every dime and perhaps neglecting a few relationships the boys all sat togehter for the first time eager to tackle the rivers of Tibet. Unfortunatly arriving from sea level to 12,000 feet requires a bit of acclimating. So we spent some time getting to know each other and getting a feel for Tibet. Eden Sinclair atop the Jokang Temple brushes up on his Tibetan before hitting the Markets. The Portala Palace in the background is the former home of the Dali Lhama.

The Jokang temple is one of the most sacred monestaries in Tibet. Pilgrims travel for months selling all of their belonging as a form of penance and seperation from material things. The pilgrims drop to their hands and knees every couple of steps prostating themselves every step of the way. Once in Lhassa the Pilgrims will circle the temple for several days stopping for short breaks and long prayers.

Pilgrims circeling the Jokang Temple with Prayer wheels in hand.

Munks walking past the Jokang Temple

Two young munks sit outside the Portal Palace with a huge Chinese flag erected in front of it. When the Chinese invaded Tibet they built a huge monument to the Liberation of Tibet by the China Red Army. This monument is heavily gaurded by military officials perhaps to avoid

defacing. mmm?

Eden Sinclair joining the Pilgrims on a lap around the Jokang temple

Finally after a week in Bejing and Lhasa it was time to load up the truck and hit the road