News sent from Phil while working on a second book in Tibet:
I’m in Gansu Province on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau adding to my collection of stories of people who live on the plateau. I’m traveling with Stevan from North Carolina and Inigo who is currently living in Singapore — Both are photographers that I met in my workshops. Vincent, our Tibetan guide pointed out this group of monks camping out in the middle of nowhere. Monks camping!?! There were six monks that were on a 129 day pilgrimage moving their campsite every two days. They would retire to their tent and chant for two hours praying for a good growing season and health for the livestock of farmers and nomads in the area. They did this six times a day!
We watched as they joked with each other, carved mani stones and fed the ants.
Whyteria Bullock
It’s a blessing for you to be able to return to Tibet after facing the dangers of you previous trips. It will be interesting to see if you run into any familiar faces?
How much has the landscape changed?
Phil Borges
Whyteria, I actually did not run into any familar faces. The landscape though was much more developed – many more tunnels, roads and dams.
David Leland Hyde
Hi Phil, I accessed your site from the Kathleen Ewing Gallery site. I had heard of your name but was happy to see more of your work. I have always been very interested in Tibet. The Himalaya was one place my father landscape photographer Philip Hyde had always thought he would like to go because of his love of mountains. However, I guess he never got around to it because he was too busy helping to create national parks and save wilderness in the American West. Thank you for these insights into the life of a monk. Rather than running off with gypsies or to join the circus, I feel I would rather run off and join the camping monks of Tibet…
Phil Borges
David, thank you for all of your comments and for the time you spend on my blog. Tibet is one of my favorite places and truly a unique traveling experience.