2 for 1

And I'm back from my 10 day trek through the Himalayas! I never thought I'd be so excited to be returning to mainland China, but after any long, tiring vacation I guess we all want to go home, or at least somewhere relaxing and familiar. A bonus I completely overlooked about my trip was that by visiting both Tibet and Nepal, it was like 2 vacations in one - the countries are very different geologically, culturally and socially.

The biggest shocker was how different the landscapes of the two countries looked. In the fall Tibet's valleys, which can be lush and green, are broad swaths of golden barley hay, harvested into piles, while at higher elevations omnipresent dust dominates all it touches (which is everything). I've seen Tibet described as a 'surreally beautiful place', and I couldn't agree more - its mountains are beautiful and majestic, supported by brightly colored prayer flags of the Buddhist Tibetan people, but aside from those awe-inspiring towers of rock and snow - the landscape is bleak and desolate.

Nepal, meanwhile, is greener than the Saudi flag. Seriously, after you pass out of the mountains and descend on the windward side of the great Himalayas, the landscape is bathed in green plants of every sort and type, it's a legitimate rainforest. This greenery, heightened by Tibet's sheer lack of living plants, is a refreshing relief after the dusty dirt roads of the mountain passes.

The cultures of the two countries are different too. Tibet, although independent for many years, has received Chinese influence for much of its existence (including it's introduction to Buddhism in part). Nepal, meanwhile has been influenced by India and Great Britain as an extension. The difference is obvious in building style, personal appearance and even signage - most of which are in English in Kathmandu, where as its much more mixed in Lhasa.

Even though they touch, these two countries have been largely separate for most of their existence, even today there is only one long dusty dirt road that connects the two countries. They grew up differently and, unexpectedly at least to me, remain very different to this day.