I felt sad reading today’s special report “Ride to the roof of the world” in The Straits Times. It’s awesome no doubt, to be able to travel across the mountainous plateau on the highest railway in the world. In fact, seeing some of the pictures stirred many emotions for me and I almost felt like visiting the place again. But of course I know I never really will. Because the Tibet I knew will never be the same. While not completely lost, I’m certain that its character and spirit will be altered irreversibly.
The Qinghai-Tibet railway, says Beijing, will enable a tourism-driven boom in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and its neighbouring province, Qinghai, where the new US$4.2 billion high-altitude track starts.
Right.
More tourists. More numbers. More gains.
Also.
More erosions. More damages. More losses.
I wonder when I’ll be able to visit Tibet..
It’s one of the places I would like to visit but Zara came, and we have to put our plans on hold.
Maybe by the time I visit it, they’ll have the highest highway built as well. *sigh*
Comment by zara's mama — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 @ 4:50 pm
Tibet has always seem like a place full of mysteries to me…funny though, i never thought of visiting it…
Comment by Eileen — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 @ 5:53 pm
I don’t think that you can go back to a special place and get that same charge again. It has to remain special– and a place in your past.
I’ve not known anyone who has been to Tibet, so I find your experiences interesting. I like that the change was subtle and forever. Cool.
ally: You’re right. If its meant to be special, then the 2nd experience will not be the same for sure.
Comment by ally bean — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 @ 5:31 am