Wealth of the Himalayas – The Roof Of the World
Is there wealth Tibet? By today’s standards that is. The truth is, people can create wealth in the simplest of ways. Even by today’s standards and measurements, wealth is sometimes difficult to define. Money alone often does not account for poverty or being a millionaire.
That said, the Himalayan people are on top of the world – literally. With the Himalayas often called the roof of the world because of the great altitudes reached by the peaks and the average heights of plateaus make this huge mountainous region really a life up in the clouds.
Also known as the Tibetan Highlands, this is probably the proper birthplace of the religion the world came to know as Buddhism. There are still some remaining records and religious practices very similar to but predate the formal creation of Buddhism in India.
It’s beauty and breathtaking scenery in the very fresh but thin atmosphere, is quite unlike any othe place in the world for it’s sheer size, elevation, mystique and history.
Just a word of caution, the Himalayas is a wild, wild place of many cultures. Most of the areas are still inaccessible and a few areas may still face violence. But perhaps the ever present danger is that of Hypoxia or oxygen starvation when you get to very high elevations. In fact, your brain might literally start to leak out slowly – sounds odd or even funny, but, I assure you, this is very deadly.
However, the beauty of the snow capped mountains framing the horizons or staring down the endless canyons can be unlike anything you’ve ever encountered. This is Shangri-la.
Is wealth or poverty prevalent here?
Well, like I mentioned above, the question is often moot. But if you are asking if they get enough here, I’d say, they have plenty today. I asked that same question (silly me) and I got a chorus of replies that they don’t need or want all those fancy doo-dads that strangers carry with them. They have plenty to eat. No one starves. They have plenty of clothing, food, enough money, housing, trade, etc. But perhaps most importantly, they have the freedom to worship or travel without fear. Their children are well educated and they have almost no taxes.
This narration came with regrets and dire warnings of never returning to the past when Tibet was a slave society…A surprising statement. But take a look at this video and see for yourself. Truth is sometimes far stranger than fiction. The elders declare that they have a good life today, but not when they were just children.
The people in Tibet when I spent some time with them were most certainly not wanting for starvation nor were they even over policed, nor kept from speaking to anyone. In fact, the police were really more of a tour guide to the region – they have records of all the tour groups, accomodations, even banks and any special permits. No, I saw no abuse nor starvation.
But, standing back and recounting so many fond memories of their world, I wonder if this is a life that so many in this world strive for. Can this really be what financial freedom is all about?
If you go, the best life saving advice I can offer is to forget about politics and enjoy. The people can be incredibly hospitable to those that respect them and their ways of life.
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