Former local Geoff Whitty is exploring his adventurous side, and is five months into an 18-month overland trip across multiple countries.
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Geoff set off on the trip in April this year, after first visiting the Southern Riverina to farewell his friends.
The trek has taken Geoff from China to Tibet, through the Stans to Turkey and Ukraine.
Next he’s making his way across to Morocco, down the West Coast of Africa (by overland truck) and to Cape Town.
He will then continue on to Brazil and Patagonia, up the Pan American Highway to Anchorage, down through Canada and the USA.
He will then make his way to the UK and Europe, returning to Australia via Asia by Christmas next year.
Geoff sent this update from Tibet in July.
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If you feel your spiritual compass is pointing in an anticlockwise direction, or you just need a dose of fresh air, there is no better place than Tibet to give it a healthy intake of enlightenment to feed the soul, or cleanse the mind.
On the other hand, if you are seeking something a little off the beaten track, take an armchair excursion on an organised tour to Everest Alternative Base Camp (ABC), and walk in the footsteps of giants.
They call this very remote and predominantly Buddhist territory of Tibet, the roof of the world.
Its capital Lhasa, the forbidden city. This is a land of mystery and intrigue, a land protected by sacred mountains.
Be enthralled and enchanted by its history, culture and religious charms.
In the Monasteries, and in the Temples the devotees and the pilgrims can be heard chanting the mantra.
The solemn dulcet tone of 'om' that floats its way effortlessly down hallways, through the alleyways and onto the courtyards of these ancient and sacred buildings that have been places of worship and protection to their inhabitants since the 12th century.
From the flagstone streets of Bakhor they pay homage to ancestors past.
On their hands and knees they painstakingly work their way inch by inch moving forward in a clockwise direction around the seventh century Jokhang Temple.
The young, the old, the invalided, and the blind carry the burden of their ancestors as they seek enlightenment or self fulfilment.
It is a ritual that has been part of Bakhor and Tibetan culture for the better part of 1,300 years.
Still want to go to Tibet?
The easiest way to get to Tibet is to fly into its capital Lhasa.
But for a slower pace, there is an alternative - take the train from Chengdu (after you have visited the Giant Pandas) and immerse yourself in comfort.
This is the highest pressurised train in the world travelling to the roof of the world at 3,656 meters ASL, and it will only take 36 hours and 18 minutes, and not a minute more!
But don't worry, there is oxygen onboard in case you need it, and a cafeteria with a healthy selection of hot and cold Asian and European delights.
Also, available is room temperature beer (heads up) and wine.
You can pre-book a four berth shared soft sleeper with comfortable clean sheets, pillow and doona. All very civilised and very comfortable.
My compartment companion on this trip was Mike.
He is retired and was travelling to Tibet for the first time.
He was born in Ireland, has German and British passports, and speaks a dialect I find very difficult to understand.
He tells me he lives in Berlin and spends six months of the year with his girlfriend living on some exotic island off the coast of Thailand somewhere (I believe him).
One of the best surprises about overlanding is the diversity of people you meet, from all walks of life.
One of the craziest and entertaining things you'll see in Lhasa are the monks debating at Sera Je Monastery.
They dance, prance and clap their hands in a choreography and word play that is as integral to Tibetan teachings as it is intriguing.
So, if anyone tells you they are in seventh heaven, they probably got there on a train via Lhasa.
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