Wednesday, August 31, 2005
coming together
I was very hesitant going to Tibet with a group of people that I don't know. I had planned this trip for 9 years, and because Tibet is a place that is difficult to access, I just didn't want too many "unkowns" in the picture.
During the last week in Tibet, after being together for some time, I started to think about the people on the trip. We all had come for various reasons, and from some very different backgrounds.
The trip was only 1/2 planned, we had to break into 3 different groups, and each group had a leader. Each group would take a 5 day shift in which they would take care of the hotel/restaurant payments, and getting water and basic supplies for the whole group as well as ordering food, and fielding questions to the guide and the professor who were leading the group.
It was a strange set up. Being part of a Tour, and yet having to actually work as well. I learned how to travel with a large, diverse group. It's much different alone or with only 2-3 others. Sometimes it was tought, but it had some unexpected advantages, like getting extra care when you are sick at 5000m above sea level.. and also having people lend you money when you need it. :)
So you may ask, why did I go? Well, it goes back to Tibet being a hard to place to access. so many permits were required to different places that we went to and so I could not do that alone. Also, it would have cost me $120USD/day for transport if I was alone too.
Now, after being back a month, we have gotten together twice. We've met at different places, shared photos, and are planning more group outings across the island. One other member and I are thinking of planning a trip for whoever is interested to another region in China. (that's another long story there)
There is one thing about the group. Everyone is about 45-55 years old. Some of these people are the most active, and physical fit people that I know. Two of them have climbed over 80 mountains in Taiwan, which is alot more than me.
Being an expat, it's very important to have local friends. Not only can they be of help to you, but more importantly you can become a part of the culture. This trip therefore brought me close to alot of Taiwanese, on another level that would not have happened if I just met them in Taiwan through someone.
During the last week in Tibet, after being together for some time, I started to think about the people on the trip. We all had come for various reasons, and from some very different backgrounds.
The trip was only 1/2 planned, we had to break into 3 different groups, and each group had a leader. Each group would take a 5 day shift in which they would take care of the hotel/restaurant payments, and getting water and basic supplies for the whole group as well as ordering food, and fielding questions to the guide and the professor who were leading the group.
It was a strange set up. Being part of a Tour, and yet having to actually work as well. I learned how to travel with a large, diverse group. It's much different alone or with only 2-3 others. Sometimes it was tought, but it had some unexpected advantages, like getting extra care when you are sick at 5000m above sea level.. and also having people lend you money when you need it. :)
So you may ask, why did I go? Well, it goes back to Tibet being a hard to place to access. so many permits were required to different places that we went to and so I could not do that alone. Also, it would have cost me $120USD/day for transport if I was alone too.
Now, after being back a month, we have gotten together twice. We've met at different places, shared photos, and are planning more group outings across the island. One other member and I are thinking of planning a trip for whoever is interested to another region in China. (that's another long story there)
There is one thing about the group. Everyone is about 45-55 years old. Some of these people are the most active, and physical fit people that I know. Two of them have climbed over 80 mountains in Taiwan, which is alot more than me.
Being an expat, it's very important to have local friends. Not only can they be of help to you, but more importantly you can become a part of the culture. This trip therefore brought me close to alot of Taiwanese, on another level that would not have happened if I just met them in Taiwan through someone.
