Our Trip to TibetTrip taken: August/September, 1997 The Erlewine's Trip to Tibet, Nepal, India, and Sikkim - by Michael Erlewine - photographs by Margaret Erlewine Since many of you have asked to read this material for different reasons, I have broken it up into sections, to make it easy on readers. Some of you are friends, relatives, sangha members, travelers, etc., so read what sections interest you. Whatever you do, don't miss the section "The Trip to Visit the 17th Karmapa," since that is the heart of the journey and will give you the flavor of the trip. As for the rest, there are some funny stories here and there. I hope you enjoy them. Keep in mind that I had a wonderful time and never was homesick one instant. If my comments are critical, it is only to show you how I was absorbing the culture shock. The Trip to Visit the 17th Karmapa On to Tsurphu and the Karmapa From America to Kathmandu: Getting Ready to Go The 12-Hour Overseas Flight The Tokyo Airport Hong Kong! Hong Kong to Kathmandu Kathmandu We Arrive in Kathmandu The First Day in KTM Bouda - The Bodnath Stupa Happy Valley Hotel Pullahari - Jamgon Kongtul's Monastery Tibet Flying to Tibet The Tara Shrine In Lhasa: the Jokhang and the Barkhor The Trip to Visit the 17th Karmapa On to Tsurphu and the Karmapa To Samye Monastery and the Chim-phuk Caves The Crystal Cave of Guru Rinpoche (Shel-Drak) Gonghar Airport to KTM Our Guides: Pemba and Tashi The Food in Tibet India & Sikkim Bhadrapur and Bharitpur From Bhadrapur to Mirik Ralang and Gyaltsap, Rinpoche Rumtek Monastery Rumtek to Darjeeling Kalu Rinpoche Those Mountain Roads Driving in the 3rd World Bhadrapur to Biratnagar The Last Days Other Topics Monks Escorting a Monk to America Tibetan Astrology Packing List for Tibet Comments on Clothes and More Margaret's Stories: We're Going to Tibet! His Holiness, the 17th Karmapa The Protector Shrine