To continue higher by bus with a maroon-robed Buddhist monk as my fellow passenger shared his food was another memorable experience. Zhongdian felt literally on the roof of Yunnan surrounded by a backdrop of distant snow-capped peaks. The area had a strong Tibetan feel, particularly around the market where many locals congregated. I went through lots of film in those pre-digital days. Again the great experiences were cycling out to nearby lakes where villagers looked over herds of sheep and yaks before heading along what was then a country lane to Songzanlin. How could I ever describe there at its historic temple, the experience of monks inviting me into their dormitory to share cups of butter tea while snacking on traditional tsampa? The amazing world of travel allows us to reach into situations so different from our everyday comfort zones.