The fascinating Tibet, the delicious food

Tibet is with famous its majestic, magic and magnificent natural scenery. The region is vast, magnificent landscape, rich in resources. Since the ancient times, this people of this land create a rich and brilliant national culture. Have a long history, the special national peoples; also destined to Tibet has       its extremely unique cuisine, and then follow this to get the approaches of Tibet dishes. Maybe you are in the travel from Beijing to Tibet. It is the best time you should know some thing about it!

Steps/method

1.Buttered tea

In Tibet, in each tibetan family, anytime, anywhere you can see the ghee. Ghee is indispensable food in every Tibetan daily life.

Ghee has a variety methods to eat, mainly play the buttered tea drink. On holiday, also use ghee for frying the fruit. Tibetan people like to drink buttered tea. When making buttered tea; First, making the tea and water boil into thick assorted; again pour tea into buttered tea barrel; add ghee and salt; mix the sasanqua blend, and then pour into the pot to heat; then become the delicious buttered tea.

The Tibetan commonly used the buttered tea for hospitality; also have a set of rules when they drink buttered tea. When the guest is let to sit aside the Tibetan square table, the host will take a cup in front of the guests. Then the master (or housewife) lift the ghee tea pot (now commonly used thermos bottle instead of it), shake for a few times, give a guest pour full bowl of buttered tea. The guest should not immediately drink, firstly chat with the master. Wait for the host again lifts the buttered tea pot standing in front of you, you can lift the bowl, and then drink a mouthful, praise happily: “The buttered tea is so well, oil and tea are inseparable.” The guest put the bowl back to the table, the master again to make it full. In this way, drink and full it again. If you don't want to drink it anymore, do not move it. If you do not want to drink after drinking a half, the owner fill the bowl, you can place it. When the guest is ready to take leave, you can be attached to drink for a few, but cannot drink dry. So, it is proper to the Tibetan habits and manners.

    2. Tsamba is one of the main Tibetan food.The product method of the Tsamba is that dry and fry the highland barley (it is barley class, there are white and purple black), and then wear to the thin noodle, and then it is the delicious tsamba.it is similar with fry noodle of the north counry. Tibet's tsamba is Fried first after grinding,Tibetan eat tsamba, mostly put a small amount of buttered tea fall into a bowl and add some tsamba surface, with the hand continuously mix well, only to knead so far, the food with the hand in the bowl and stir constantly knead.There is also a way to eat the tsamba, burn and put some meat or potherb.

The nutrition of the Tsamba is more rich than the winter wheat, and easy to carry. You just go out as long as carry trough, waist beam tsamba pocket, also solve the problem of the tea. It need not have to make a fire to cook.In addition: speaking of Tibetan food, in fact, in addition to the tsamba and buttered tea, there are a lot of unique flavor and food which you can use your own hands to do. In addition to daily edible highland barley, tsamba outside, still have a lot of Tibetan flavor snack. The following are some of the main flavour and vegetable cooking methods.

3.Fried irrigation lung Tibetan food. The pronounce of the Tibetan is “luo zha”.it is more common in Lhasa, etc.the sheep lung is for main ingredient which match with ghi and flour.At first,cook for some time and then fry. The characteristic is the light colorful. It tast crisp of the outside,but soft the inside.also the taste is sweet and beauty.

4. Steamed ox tongue

It is the Tibetan food. The pronounce of the Tibetan is“jie lang zui”. It is more common in Lhasa, etc. With ox tongue meat as main ingredient, and boil it. The characteristic of it is tender; the flavor is delicious and fragrant with pepper.

5. Tibetan food. Also called three intestines, five intestines. With the fresh sheep and small intestine for clothes, make the sheep blood, the mutton, the highland barley surface or bean flour in it,also call the blood sausage,the meal sausage, the rigatoni as three intestines; Otherwise imbed the sheep liver and the mutton fat. respectively call the enterohepatic, the oil intestine, and the three intestines as five intestines. This dish for Tibet in the New Year.

6. The sweet cooking oil spleen

The pronounce of the Tibetan is “cai ye”. It is Major popular in Yushu of the QingHai Tibetan autonomous prefecture area. Make the sheep spleen, mutton fat as the main ingredient. The feature is delicious, fat but not greasy.

7. Fire fern hemp pig

The tibetan food. It is popular in Gansu of the Gannan Tibetan autonomous region area. Fern hemp pig is the specialty of the Gannan grassland, because the local people raise the pigs often in grassland. This boar tastes succulent and delicious, little fat. The characteristic this food is crisp, it taste especially delicious.

8. XiaHe tendon

Tibetan food. Make the sheep tendon for the main ingredient, match with the edible fungus and chrysanthemum etc. And has the steaming, boiling. The characteristic is smooth, fresh and sweet. This food is started in Gannan Tibetan autonomous region area, reportedly has famous in the Ming dynasty.

9.　The braised detonation lamb

Tibetan food, it is mainly famous in the Tibetan people of the agricultural regions of Qinghai province, with the fresh lamb as raw material, the characteristic is soft and refreshing, also crisp and spicy sweet.  

10. Blow liver

Tibetan food. It is Mainly in Yunnan the Diqing Tibetan autonomous region area. Also it is popular in the Han nationality. The main ingredient is pork liver. Characteristic is sweet and fresh, also appetizing and refreshing.

The colorful prayer flags among the sky and land

The Tibet, a mysterious city. Not only the sight is charming, but the art and special culture are fascinating. In other words, all the things of the Tibet are make the tourists go and fall in love with its characters. So many people take a long time to get there, the inland, and even the foreign counrty. They take the train from Beijing to Tibet, have a fun on their Lhasa and Tibet travel. As far as I am concerned, the people has the particular mood to the sky of the Tibet, also the mountain, the river, even the people. And, nevertheless you have been there or not, there is a unique thing among the sky, the mountain, the river and also the people. It is colorful, sacred, special and magical.

The magnificent snow mountain, the beautiful lake, the winding road… you will get these in you eyes and heart when you get in Tibet. And the prayer flags, it is so enthusiastic for your coming. And what is it? What the effect of the prayer flags? How are these unique things maken? You will find the answer with the followings.

What is the prayer flags?

The prayer flags is a unique scenery of the Tibet plateau, in the Sichuan, the Qinghai, the Gansu, and the Yunnan Tibetan erea, also the Nepal,the Sikkim, the Bhutan, the Kashmir and the neighbours, people can see all kinds of prayer flags in everywhere. These square, angle, and the form small flags are fixed orderly on the door handle, the rope, the family house, the tree branches, sway between the earth and heaven wanders and constitute a kind of state which combine the land and sky. String string hung in the pavilion and pine room flags waving, The prayer flags not only have many religious meaning,but also the pieces of very good arts. It is same with the sequined peaks, the green blanket meadow, the width and boundless desert, the golden temple, also shall be a unique and distinct symbol of the Tibetan natural and humanistic environment.

What the form and the totem of the prayer flags?

The center of the prayer is a horse, the horse image is the symbol of the miracle. Wish the worldly things which are restricted by the five kinds of natural objects, turn from the opposition to peace, the bad to the good, the evil to good, the threat to auspiciousness, the bad luck to lucky. Can not only change, and change quickly. The four corners of the four beasts picture image, the tiger lives in the forest; the tiger's image symbol of wood or wind; The lion in the mountains, the image of the lion symbolizes the soil; Albatross fly in the sky, the double angle erupt the flame, and this image symbol the fire; Dragons live in the sea, the image of dragon symbolizes the water. The wind is in everywhere, the wind is in the sky. How special is it! And there are another things which will make you feel surprised!

What the history and origin of the prayer flags?

It is same with the all tangible and intangible art of theTibet, the creation and communication of the prayer flags, also the first is driven by religious thoughts and service, it is a vehicle that the monks spirit world and the heaven spirit. The general thought that the prayer flags are from a primitive sacrifice culture, mainly come from the worship of the animals soul. Also, maybe you will get some information about the Tibet in the train from Chengdu to Lhasa.

What the classification and use of the prayer flags?

According to colour can be roughly divided into two kinds: one kind is to use black or minium and make the scriptures map symbol printed on the whole piece of white cloth; One kind is with “the feng ma flags”, combine the blue, white, yellow, red, and green cloth in the scriptures map symbol.There is another function which is not easy to be seen by the outlander. Namely, in case of living Buddha chiefs parinirvana, every family should be on the roof and make the prayer flags place tilt, that is to show the sad.It also as a ritual supplies, cast in spume scud of smoke when fire the mulberry, get up with the cigarette skyrocketing. Every religious festival, there is often the scraps of the paper fly in everywhere; fall to the ground ,and stored up on a thick layer before the simmering and be the side in all sizes temples including the Jokhang temple in Lhasa. It is the link of the spirit, also the conection of the soul. What is more, You will never know the prayer flags if you are never devout.

The prayer flags are the important part of the national culture, also are the necessary form for the Tibet people’s life. You can miss the beautiful girl who you meet in the Tibet; you can forget the taste of the buttered tea; you can regardless the things what you meet on your travel to Everest base camp… however, you should carve the prayer flags in your heart, and guide you to find the pure land on the blatant road. But my dear friend, do not never only take it in your camera and then save in the computer.

The Mani pile, the special and mysterious thing in the Tibet

The Mani pile

In Tibet, you will also see the mysterious Mani reactor in the peaks, grass land or the temple. You can witness this special thing on the way of your Nepal and Tibet travel. You must be pretty surprised about that. So where do these many Mani pile from? And what is the use? How many kinds?

What is the Mani pile?

There are so many stone heaps which you can witness in many place of the Tibet. It is called the “Mani pile” by the locals. Also named of the “god pile”. Above of the Some rocks also will carve Mani mantra or other scriptures, also there are buddha eye, the buddha statue, all kinds of auspicious patterns, etc.

 

The species of the Mani pile

The shape of the Mani pile is divided into two kinds, one kind’s high is about three to four meters; it has the pyramid shape heap. On the heap of stones, there are not any text pattern on it. The pronounciation of the Mani pile in the Tibetan is "duobeng". Another kind is on the stone chip or pebbles, they carve the scriptures or the design, and then build for the Mani pile which the shape is like the wall. The Tibetan called this “mian dang”.

what the content are carved in the Mani pile generally?

Mani pile which is engraved with the content general is relevant about the Tibetan Buddhism. There are various scriptures, auspicious words, Buddha, also the Buddha have character, animal or evil. Surely the content is varied.

The common Scripture is carved with the Mani mantra. And for the Buddha, there are some common buddhas, such as the thousand-arm Guanyin, The goddess of mercy, the sakyamuni, the Dumu, the fine voices goddess,the Yamantaka, etc. But the main character are master Tsongkhapa, padmasambhava. And the Animal or the demons are generally appeared in the buddhist allusions.

why do the Mani pile become more and more big?

The initial Mani pile is very small. But whenever anyone pass by also according to the traditions, they will read aloud, call god, pray god's mercy, and want the happiness. Objective then go around with the Mani pile for a turn. And then put a block of stone on the top, and if there is no stone, also will fill in the other things. Such as the animal head, fur, etc. So after a long time of the accumulation, the Mani pile is getting more and more big.

How to worship the Mani pile?

General and common is in the comparatively important another day, people will have the simmering mulberry on the side of the Mani pile, and add some stone on the Mani pile. The time when you fill, make the stone to has light touch above your forehead, mouth to read aloud a prayer, and then put into the Mani pile.

And the side of the Mani pile common are the hada, the prayer, the clothing and even the hair is tied in the branches of the tree.

Why there is Mani pile in the Tibet?

The main reason is the worship of the Tibetan for the stone. They think that the stone has a life, a spirit. Stone can not only forge the tools, but also can be used to attack the beast, build houses, make flour,and dispense medicine. And some places also have put the stones to the pray the home. And the the turquoise, corallite, beads stone which wear by the Tibetan, also evolve from this.

The extension introduce:

why do they put the yak skull on the Mani pile?

This is the worship which the Tibetan to the yak totem. The Tibetan people think that the yak is a "goddess"; Tibetan regarded her as the patron saint of Tibet; in order to bless the people's health, animal husbandry and prosperous, she overcome various disasters. So the nomads regard the certain organs of the yak as artifact, place it in any place, yak became the symbol about the valor and power of the mighty men. This also is why you can see the yak skull in the Mani pile, the roof, and the mountain pass in the Tibet.

why there are prayer flags in the Mani pile ?

Above all prayer flags with buddhist scriptures, whenever the wind blow over, it means the people who hang the prayer read it again. When the people put the Mani stone on the Mani pile with flags, Mani stone represent that the wishes are with prayer scripture ascended to the sky.

Where is the largest Mani pile in the China?

The China's largest Mani pile is in the kumbum monastery of Qinghai. Qinghai's kumbum Mani pile obtained in the guinness world book of records.

The hiking to the Medog

Pedestrianism is more and more popular in the young, also there are a lot of old man who are interested in this special sports! For them, travel is not only means a journey, but a form to experience the life! Some of them are professional pedestrianism; they give up their regular work and put all of themselves energy to the pedestrainism; actually, many of the people are not comprehend them even their family. I have ever meet a couple of lover, they are regardless about the tear of their relatives! They are so addicted to the feel of the way. They talk about their travel to Everest base camp and the travel from Chengdu to Lhasa, and the journey of the Medog to me. Finally, I am fill in love with the Medog, also the journey. 

Just as the view of the most people, have the hiking in the tibet is not easy. The nature condition, the energy of  physiology and phychology and the weather all of these are the challenge to the tourist, much less the fresh pedestrianism. And the the hiking of the modog is one of the most special and difficult line. So even if the route is bumpy, but worthy you will feel after you have undergone. Now, let us share some experience about the Medog pedestrianism.

The routes and view

There are two lines to the Medog. One is driving from the Bowo, the another is climbing the mountain Duoxiongla. And the second route is the really pedestrianism to the Medog. So you need get the railway to Lhasa. and then begin the your hiking to the Medog. The real charming view of the Medog pedestrianism is on the way. The first day of the mountain Duoxiongla; the second day of the original forest; and on the third day, Canyon is magnificent. It should be like the sentence that true beauty is not the destination, but on the road! It will be diffirent to the view in your Lhasa and Tibet travel, the street in the Lhasa, the goods in the Barkhor street, the temple in the Tibet, all of these are not so lively like the scene on the road.

The preparation and equipment

Speak honest, you should not despise the difficulty what you will meet in the hiking. There are lots of problems what you can not expect! So, it is pretty necessary for you to get more knowledge and preparation for the pedestrianism. You must take the enough clothes to keep warm and prevent the rain or mosquito. Also the equipments which is for the climbing and hiking are needed! Such as the tent, the solid food, the shoes, the alpenstock, the medicine and others.

Matters need attention

You should not have the hiking by yourself, I mean that it is dangerous. Also the snowslide is happened in any time; the leech is in any place. You should be with your partner, also there need a experienced person in your team. Do not be careless, you shoud be careful in every time.

There is a old word in the China—the others mountain, the wise man happy water! The city life let us feel lazy and boring, you must have some time to get out, to be a tourist, to have the pedestrianism. You should be on the way, but do not forget the route to back, do not miss the last bus to go home!  

  

The Tibetan mastiff, the patron saint of the snow plateau

There is a special animal which you will meet in the snow plateau; it is not meekly like the yak on your Shanghai to Tibet travel; also it is not timid like the dog in your home, it is Tibetan mastiff!

Tibetan mastiff, called the Himalayan Tibetan mastiff , originated in the Himalayan mountains area, namely the Shannan district of the tibet. The world dog history records, any of the large dog in the world are made with Tibetan mastiff as the foundation kind of dog as a result of the improvement. Whether the great Dane, the st Andrew's, the horse Steve, or the big white bear, the Caucasus, etc. Also the Tibetan mastiff is the ancestors, in other words, if there is no Tibetan mastiff, the dog history will rewrite.

Tibetan mastiff, the ferocity, the loyalty and regardless the die but to fight is the best footnote of its character, this kind of its character trait become the most intuitive form of the Confucian spirit. In the process of one thousand year, it guards the cattle for the nomadic people, also has been transformed into the totem of the real life and spirit world of the pastoralists.

It still waters run deep, Great courage if afraid, enough power if anger, look in the eyes always contain a kind of contempt of all the expression, the composed temperament although in the danger, most has the majestic demeanor.

As special famous dog "mastiff" of the Qinghai Tibet plateau, as early as in the age of Genghis khan had fame to flame; in the process of the several fighting times, "Tibetan mastiff forces" played a huge role, they are almost invincible that all with Tibetan mastiff as a weapon of war. The so-called "Tibetan mastiff forces" is specially equipped with an elite team in the military, and what the equipment is the fierce Tibetan mastiff. After get the Tibetan mastiff—this special "weapon", the enemy is always struck fear, not war but defeated.

After the smoke of the war cleared, the Tibetan mastiff is another way to be the most reliable friend of the Tibetan herdsmen and powerful protector of the livestock. It is said that in order to protect the cattle and the sheep of the pastoralists, a Tibetan mastiff can even against a group of hungry wolf’s attacks, until it is black and blue all over, until drain away the last drop of blood, it also doesn't shrink back.

 

The Tibetan mastiff make its infinite charm constantly diffuse to every corner: the loyalty, the brave, the fearless spirit, the nobility, the composed character, the spiritual intellegence... All of these admiring words, also can not describe perfectly which are used in Tibetan mastiff. In the snow area plateau where the lion also can't turn up, the Himalayan Tibetan mastiff uses its "the lion roar", shows the majesty in the snowy plateau.

The Tibetan mastiff is a patron saint in the snow area that the god gifts the common people.

The charming Shoton festival

 Most of the festival is happy and exciting. For the Chinese people, the spring festival is the most important. However, the foreign friends are deeply in love the Christmas day. Surely, there must have some special festival in everyone heart. Who knows?

So, what the most special festival for the Tibetan? It is Shoton festival. And to tell you the truth, the Shoton festival is one of the biggest festival in the Tibet. All of them also take their lots of interest and care when the Shoton festival. Well, what is the Shoton festival? And when is it? How will the people do in the Shoton festival? Take your questions, and let us begin to spend the Shoton festival.

Maybe you have heard some information in the train from Shanghai to Lhasa, or talk about this unique festival with the local people in the travel to the Everest base camp. And the legend about the Shoton festival is devout. It is pretty important for the pilgrims. As you know, the Tibetan is religious to the Buddha. And there are three activities what they will do in the Shoton festival—the sunning Buddha, the jumping Tibetan opera and the barbecue.

There are so many tourists that come to there because they admire its fame. But it is not easy for you to witness the sunning Buddha; also sometimes it depends on the luck. So do remember the date of the Shoton festival is about the end of the June and the beginning of the July. Make the plane for the Shoton in your Lhasa and Tibet travel. The process of the sunning Buddha is breathtaking. The people go to the hidden Buddha before the sunrise, it is dark, but they are so excited. The young, the old, the foreign, the pilgrim…and with the sun out, the hidden Buddha is clear and showed under the sunshine. It is so bright and magnificent. It is said that there will be some sunglow on the Buddha even in the raining day. Wow, it maybe the length of Buddha or soul.

Surely, the jumping Tibetan opera is also fascinating. The people who are from another provinces make the Tibetan opera show together. It is a nice chance you can enjoy the traditional culture of Tibet. Especially for the foreign tourist; if you are having the Nepal and Tibet travel, do not you think it is a wonderful idea to get more know about the Shoton festival?

Also more and more activities which are organized by the office are hold in the Shoton festival. It is funny that if you are interested in the barbecue. The sunshine, the blue sky, the grassland, and the yak…what a natural barbecue will you have!  

So are you interested in a Shoton Festival tour? I believe you not only will spend a wonderful and unforgettable time in the Tibet, but also can harvest the real meaning of the soul and life in the Shoton festival.

 My sweet friend, god blesses you!     

Be a hero with the horse

The china has a long history; also there is some culture which is centuried. Such as the word, the building, the etiquette, and the sport… surely, tell you the truth, the Chinese is more interested in the literature and art, but also, they are skilled in the sport. You can witness the achievements in the Olympic Games in 2012.And the horse racing is one of the oldest sport. Since ancient time form change very much, but the basic principles are competition speed. Now, I will introduce you a festival which hold in the plateau. Wow, it is so cool just listening. The far friend, take up the tibet railway and let us witness the horse racing festival.

Horse racing is a popular activity in the Tibetan people; it is not only the agriculture herdsman leisure rally, but also the communication farming and animal husbandry production experience chance. Also there is some one who comes to there from the far place, they have the Tibet travel from Shanghai, or some one is more far who has the Lhasa and Kathmandu travel, but especially for the festival. The lots of Tibetan people who are in the beautiful dress and take their highland barley wine and yoghourt join in the horse racing festival. It would not be the slightest bit of an overstatement to say that the horse racing is same important like the Tibet spring festival. As far as I am concerned that it is like a small Olympic Game in the Tibet. What is more significant is that the Tibetan people contribute the special national horse racing culture, because of the deep mood which the older make for the horse. To a great extent, Tibetan Buddhism affects the Tibetan history, culture, and daily life. We often see the religious ceremonies, folk customs; can see the horse race culture influence of Tibetan Buddhism during the horse racing festival. Of course, this is not the main aspects of race culture. Just as the time what you spend in the route is not the main in your Nepal and Tibet travel. Horse racing culture also contain no doubt for hero worship; this formed the brave and free character to the Tibetan who have a long-term in grassland on the nomadic life.

In all ages, the horse is combined with the Tibetan people's material and spiritual desire closely. The feelings to the horse, is strong and thick. The horse is the most intimate partners of the Tibetan people's daily life. In their heart, the horse is the life of a shepherd. Love to the horse is the nature of the Tibetan; horse racing is Tibetan people's main content of the entertainment life.

As early as before the horse racing festival for several months, the horse will no longer use and training. At the beginning. Every 7 days for a practice run; after practice run with cold water bath, in order to enhance its energy to fight cold. Near the game, practice run two times every day, then a bath. After the bath with wool felt parcel whole body and make its warm, and at the same time, feed carefully modulation ice-sugar goat's milk, careful take care of them better than babies.

    Also, it is a love season for the young. The race, the grassland, the beautiful girl, the carnival, the cheer…yeah, it is the horse racing festival. The most exciting and natuaral horse racing is here, the heaven Tibet.