Tibet

Tibet is a conflict-ridden region. Tibet is an autonomous area of China for the Chinese, but it is (and will be again someday) an independent country for Tibetans. The circumstances of this conflict vary depending on who you ask, but Tibet has never been the same since China invaded Tibet in the 1950s. Since then, assimilation has been fiercely fought, the Dalai Lama – Tibet's spiritual and political leader – has gone into exile (where he has been for nearly 50 years), and residents have clung to a culture that has been steadily dying for decades. Some Tibetans have gone to extremes to draw the world's attention, and it has worked. Tibet's daily life is governed by its altitude, albeit not as much as its namesake religion. Tibetan Buddhism is at the heart of Tibetan culture, and the Tibetan people's devotion to their faith is nothing short of amazing. Understanding Tibet and its people require observing this spiritual devotion. So, instead of interjecting what you know, seek out what you don't know, and you'll undoubtedly be enlightened, as the Buddhists say. Altogether Tibet is a beautiful place to visit.