Sep 25 2007
A trek to the Tibetan Kingdom of Mustang
he Kingdom of Mustang is a semi-feudal, semi-independent and semi-secret region of Nepal, nestled in the Himalayas at 13,000 feet on the border with Tibet.
Photographer Don Gurewitz was given access to the Kingdom, and will be sharing what he saw during a slide lecture, "Mustang: The Lost Tibetan Kingdom," on Saturday, October 6, 6:30 p.m. at Lopez Center. It will be a potluck as well, so bring your favorite dish.
Don is an internationally recognized photographer who has traveled to over 50 countries and exhibited his work throughout the world.
To reach and photograph Mustang's capital -- the medieval walled city of Lo Manthang -- Gurewitz trekked for five days through the deepest canyon in the world.
Once inside this ancient kingdom, Don was able to capture a rare and fragile portrait of an historic culture.
The Kingdom of Mustang was closed to the outside world until the early 1990s, and, even today, special permission is needed to enter. It is the only surviving continuous Tibetan monarchy, and because of this, and its near-total isolation for so long, it is perhaps the "purest" surviving Tibetan culture in the world.
Take a glimpse at the people, villages, farms, monasteries, and celebrations of this unique and ancient culture, and the wild, remote, and starkly beautiful Himalayan landscape that has shaped it.
Donations at the door will benefit Lopez Island Foreign Exchange (LIFE) Travel Program at Lopez School. There will information about LIFE during the event.
"Don will talk about the many benefits of travel in the education of students, and the importance of travel in creating and maintaining a society that values the richness of cultural diversity, and the promotion of peace through global citizenship," said Michele Heller, who helped coordinate Don's appearance on Lopez.
There will also be a special performance from Tibetan Singer Karjam Saeji.
For more information go to www.dongurewitzphotography.com.
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