Tibet Travel Adventure Guide

Rating:
Summary: About this book
Review: Although there are excellent cultural and political guides to Tibet, practical, informative, up-to-date travel guides to this beautiful and troubled land are scarce. ITMB's guide, by renowned travel writer Michael Buckley, is the best down-to-earth account of "how to" for Tibet. Illustrated with 6 pages of colour photos, as well as B/W photos. One of accurate, detailed maps of Central Tibet and Western Tibet, including a colour relief map of Tibet

Rating:
Summary: The best introductory guide to central Tibet
Review: Michael Buckley is no newcomer to the field of Tibetan guidebooks. He was joint author of the first edition of the Lonely Planet guide to Tibet, published in early 1986.

His new book is undoubtedly the one I would recommend first for reading before a visit to Tibet. For a visit to central or western Tibet it may also be the best single book to take.

The qualifications I have for commenting on guidebooks to Tibet are just that I have travelled to Tibet a number of times, always independently, that I have visited many of the regions of Tibet, that as a travel advisor for a major Tibet-support organization I have consulted with hundreds of western travellers to Tibet, and that I have read just about every guidebook to Tibet published in recent years.

Michael has a most attractive, easy style, speaking (he seems to be speaking) as one traveller to another. He is never patronising or pompous, he does not pretend to know what he doesn't know, and he does not flaunt his knowledge; among writers of guidebooks, those are rare achievements. Despite them, Michael is knowledgeable (there are many quite surprising bits of information) and is forthright in expressing his own considered opinions about cultural and political matters; but he seems to be sharing those opinions and his reasons for holding them, rather than preaching.

"What think ye of Tibet?" is a profound and important moral question, and it is one that any serious visitor should work on, and continue working on. Tibet is not the fantasy land that it was so often (by way of a kind of intellectual rape) supposed to be. But it is a country whose long isolation and whose unique approach to national priorities and polity have made it a priceless pearl, analogous to a genetic pool, whose destruction is occurring at the world's peril. Michael's book understands this, and includes an eloquent summary of the moral issues with which Tibetan politics confront and challenge the world. They are clearly matters on which Michael has thought long and deeply.

Some guidebooks use a fair amount of hearsay and guesswork for the sake of appearing complete in their description of places and travelling conditions. Michael seems to avoid that. If his information is sometimes incomplete, perhaps it is more reliable.

Every Tibet guidebook must answer the question, What are the boundaries of Tibet? Some guidebooks do not admit to asking it, but give their answers furtively, by what regions they speak about. Tibet is assuredly larger than the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" (of China), which alone the People's Republic means when it speaks of Tibet (Xizang). The territorial claims of the exile Tibetan government are, to say the least, ambitious; but it is a curious fact that they do not include a great deal of territory outside the "T.A.R." which China does not also classify as "Tibetan Autonomous" prefectures or counties in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu or Yunnan provinces.

Michael does acknowledge a Tibet wider than the "T.A.R.": he includes a twenty-page chapter on "The Tibetan World outside the TAR, Tibet in exile, former kingdoms". Within that chapter, only a very few pages deal with Tibet outside the "T.A.R." but inside the People's Republic. But the chapter also includes welcome, if brief, sections on Tibetan regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan, as well as on Outer Mongolia - historically within the Tibetan cultural and religious sphere. Perhaps almost of necessity all the detailed travel information in the book concerns the "T.A.R.", and there is scope in future editions for more extensive information about the rest of Tibet.

Michael understands the importance of good maps, and this is reflected by the quality of the maps in his book. The inclusion is very welcome of town maps of Sakya, Nyalam, Ali, Zanda (Tholing) and Tsaparang, among others.

The book includes good descriptions of the main tourist routes in the T.A.R., including the route from Lhasa to Kathmandu with the main detours, an excellent section on trekking near Everest, and the western Tibet circuit. Welcome additions would include the circuit to the Kongpo east of Lhasa (through Bayi and Tsedang) with detours to Basum Tso and down the Tsangpo to Pe, the circuit through Nagchu to Chamdo and Bayi, and the route from Tsedang south of Yamdrok Tso to Gyantse. An index is needed.

All this means that this is a most valuable book, but that I hope Michael will persevere in making it even better, and considerably larger, in future editions.

Rating:
Summary: The best introductory guide to central Tibet
Review: Michael Buckley is no newcomer to the field of Tibetan guidebooks. He was joint author of the first edition of the Lonely Planet guide to Tibet, published in early 1986.

His new book is undoubtedly the one I would recommend first for reading before a visit to Tibet. For a visit to central or western Tibet it may also be the best single book to take.

The qualifications I have for commenting on guidebooks to Tibet are just that I have travelled to Tibet a number of times, always independently, that I have visited many of the regions of Tibet, that as a travel advisor for a major Tibet-support organization I have consulted with hundreds of western travellers to Tibet, and that I have read just about every guidebook to Tibet published in recent years.

Michael has a most attractive, easy style, speaking (he seems to be speaking) as one traveller to another. He is never patronising or pompous, he does not pretend to know what he doesn't know, and he does not flaunt his knowledge; among writers of guidebooks, those are rare achievements. Despite them, Michael is knowledgeable (there are many quite surprising bits of information) and is forthright in expressing his own considered opinions about cultural and political matters; but he seems to be sharing those opinions and his reasons for holding them, rather than preaching.

"What think ye of Tibet?" is a profound and important moral question, and it is one that any serious visitor should work on, and continue working on. Tibet is not the fantasy land that it was so often (by way of a kind of intellectual rape) supposed to be. But it is a country whose long isolation and whose unique approach to national priorities and polity have made it a priceless pearl, analogous to a genetic pool, whose destruction is occurring at the world's peril. Michael's book understands this, and includes an eloquent summary of the moral issues with which Tibetan politics confront and challenge the world. They are clearly matters on which Michael has thought long and deeply.

Some guidebooks use a fair amount of hearsay and guesswork for the sake of appearing complete in their description of places and travelling conditions. Michael seems to avoid that. If his information is sometimes incomplete, perhaps it is more reliable.

Every Tibet guidebook must answer the question, What are the boundaries of Tibet? Some guidebooks do not admit to asking it, but give their answers furtively, by what regions they speak about. Tibet is assuredly larger than the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" (of China), which alone the People's Republic means when it speaks of Tibet (Xizang). The territorial claims of the exile Tibetan government are, to say the least, ambitious; but it is a curious fact that they do not include a great deal of territory outside the "T.A.R." which China does not also classify as "Tibetan Autonomous" prefectures or counties in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu or Yunnan provinces.

Michael does acknowledge a Tibet wider than the "T.A.R.": he includes a twenty-page chapter on "The Tibetan World outside the TAR, Tibet in exile, former kingdoms". Within that chapter, only a very few pages deal with Tibet outside the "T.A.R." but inside the People's Republic. But the chapter also includes welcome, if brief, sections on Tibetan regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan, as well as on Outer Mongolia - historically within the Tibetan cultural and religious sphere. Perhaps almost of necessity all the detailed travel information in the book concerns the "T.A.R.", and there is scope in future editions for more extensive information about the rest of Tibet.

Michael understands the importance of good maps, and this is reflected by the quality of the maps in his book. The inclusion is very welcome of town maps of Sakya, Nyalam, Ali, Zanda (Tholing) and Tsaparang, among others.

The book includes good descriptions of the main tourist routes in the T.A.R., including the route from Lhasa to Kathmandu with the main detours, an excellent section on trekking near Everest, and the western Tibet circuit. Welcome additions would include the circuit to the Kongpo east of Lhasa (through Bayi and Tsedang) with detours to Basum Tso and down the Tsangpo to Pe, the circuit through Nagchu to Chamdo and Bayi, and the route from Tsedang south of Yamdrok Tso to Gyantse. An index is needed.

All this means that this is a most valuable book, but that I hope Michael will persevere in making it even better, and considerably larger, in future editions.

Rating:
Summary: Tibet Travel Adventure Guide
Review: This is one of the best of the four different guidebooks that I've used on my visits to Tibet. The text provides an excellent introduction to the many fascinating aspects of Tibet culture and valuable practical information for a visit. Michael Buckley also gives easy-to-follow descriptions of temples and other sights. The superb maps had clarity and accuracy unmatched in the other guidebooks or even other publisher's fold-out maps. I was also on the bicycle trip with Chris Sandvig and we all carried dog-eared maps photocopied out of Buckley's guide!

Rating:
Summary: Travelling in Tibet
Review: Tibet is one of the toughest and most confusing places in theworld for the independent traveller to enter and tour. That's why youneed a good guidebook. Access to any kind of information--particularly maps--is severely restricted by a watchful Chinese government. You have to take the information with you--or read it before you go. Tibet Travel Adventure Guide is packed with practical information on travel in Tibet as well as background on current problems, and thoroughly-researched sections on key temples and sights. The book tackles political issues head-on, and is particulary strong on up-to-date accurate maps. Angled for the independent traveller, this guide has the latest information on conditions in Tibet.

BACK COVER COPY: Tibet: the name conjures up a land of monks and mystery and high adventure, a place ringed by high mountains--and shrouded in high controversy. Should you go? Can you go? This guidebook tells you how to orchestrate a trip to this extraordinary destination. Detailed maps lay the groundwork for motoring across the roof of the world from Lhasa to Kathmandu, mountain-biking the plateau, or trekking around sacred Mount Kailash.

TIBET TRAVEL ADVENTURE GUIDE by Michael Buckley, ITMB Publishing, Canada ISBN 1895907985, paperback 272pp, 22 maps& plans, 6pp colour photos, plus B/W photos, released Jan. 1999

CONTENTS / Chapter Headings: STRANGE DAYS IN TIBET /stepping into the Land of Snows). ON THE ROAD / practical information for touring Tibet. LHASA / secrets of the city. EXPLORING CENTRAL TIBET / key pilgrimage sites of the region. LHASA TO KATHMANDU ROUTE / the greatest road route in High Asia. STAR TREKS / high altitude forays to Everest, Kailash & beyond. THE TIBETAN WORLD / outside the TAR, Tibet in exile, former kingdoms. CONTEXT, SUBTEXT / the forces shaping Tibet. RESOURCES / maps, books, music, videos, & internet sources

"Michael Buckley has a most attractive, easy style, speaking (he seems to be speaking) as one traveller to another. He is never patronising or pompous, he does not pretend to know what he doesn't know, and he does not flaunt his knowledge; among writers of guidebooks, those are rare achievements . . . This book is undoubtedly the one I would recommend first for reading before a visit to Tibet. For a visit to central or western Tibet it may also be the best single book to take." --Tony Williams, travel co-ordinator, Australia Tibet Council

About the Author: Michael Buckley has travelled widely in Tibet, China, Central Asia and the Himalayas, visiting many Tibetan enclaves. In the course of journeys to Tibet, he has hitchhiked from Chengdu to Lhasa, trekked around Mount Kailash, and mountain-biked from Lhasa to Kathmandu. He is author or co-author of six travel books on the Himalayan and Southeast Asian regions, including Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Handbook, published by Moon Travel Handbooks. He is author of Cycling to Xian, a travelogue about bicycling across China and Tibet (available through Amazon), and has contributed stories to Travelers' Tales Thailand and Travelers' Tales India.

EXCERPTED from TIBET TRAVEL ADVENTURE GUIDE, copyright Michael Buckley 1999, all rights reserved; reprinted by permission:

SHOULD YOU GO?

Should you go to Tibet? Should you put money in Chinese coffers, thus indirectly subsidising Chinese military bills in Tibet? Most of the tourist business is in the hands of the Chinese--and some of the travel agencies are run by the military. There is the thorny question of lending legitimacy to Chinese government operations by visiting--but more important for the Tibetans is the moral support they get from visitors. Your mere presence in Tibet provides a "buffer zone" in an ugly situation between Chinese and Tibetans.

Tourists love monks. This is one of the great anomalies of tourism in Tibet: the monasteries are kept open and operating because of tourist demand to see them. Apart from Himalayan landscapes, the main tourist "attraction" in Tibet is in fact its monks and monasteries, its Buddhist rituals and sutra-chanting. The Chinese really have no difficulty with this--they simply cash in on it. Apart from making a buck out of Buddhism, the Chinese have absolutely no interest in Tibet's rich culture, its religion or its language. If you go, you line the pockets of Chinese travel agents, hoteliers and airline agents, but if you stay away, you isolate the Tibetans.

What to do? The position of the Tibetan exile leadership is to encourage tourism. When asked about this ethical--to go or not to go--Nobel Peace Prize laureate the Dalai Lama responded "yes, go to Tibet, go and see for yourself." He knows that any Western visitor to Tibet will learn of conditions there and of the aspirations of Tibetans--and cannot fail to be moved by the experience, and will keep the Tibetan issue alive.

Rating:
Summary: Could be better...
Review: We had this book and the Lonely Planet 4th edition on a bike trip along the Friendship Highway. If Lonely Planet didn't have a much better guidebook this one would be better than nothing, but it poorly indexed and organized.

Rating:
Summary: Could be better...
Review: We had this book and the Lonely Planet 4th edition on a bike trip along the Friendship Highway. If Lonely Planet didn't have a much better guidebook this one would be better than nothing, but it poorly indexed and organized.

Rating:
Summary: From the cartographer
Review: Work on the Tibet TAG was one of the most interesting projects I've done. Because there's NO source material available on Tibet, Michael gave me hand-drawn notes to construct the maps. Often we sat together and discussed for hours about site locations, distance relationships, graphic-cartographic definitions, ... The result is impressing: the by far best detail maps of Tibet.