Why do we put up with the long flight to China, the steambath-like weather of Chongqing (although we had a wonderful time there), and the sometimes terrifying and always uncomfortable bus rides? We had our answer when we woke up Monday morning in the wonderful Tibetan town of Ganzi (Chinese name) or Garze (Tibetan name). At 3400m elevation, surrounded by snow and rock peaks up to nearly 6000m high, in the beautiful wide valley of the Yalong River, with many temples and lamasaries nearby, and populated by friendly Tibetans, this was indeed what we had come to see and experience. The local population seem to be mainly monks from the surrounding lamasaries, furniture makers, or farmers. Harvest is in full swing now. Some kind of beans, barley or wheat, and potatoes are the main crops. The
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