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Himalaya

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	The Dalai Lama - Freedom in Exile In 1938 a two-year-old boy was recognised through a traditional process of discovery as being the reincarnation of all previous Dalai Lamas, the spiritual rulers of Tibet. Taken away from his parents, he was brought up in Lhasa according to a monastic regimen of rigorous austerity and in almost total isolation. Aged seven he was enthroned in the 1000-room Potala palace as the supreme spiritual leader of a nation the size of Western Europe, with population of six million. And at fifteen, he became head of state. With Tibet under threat from the newly Communist Chinese, there followed a traumatic decade during which he became the confidant of both Chairman Mao and Jawaharal Nehru as he tried to maintain autonomy for his people. Then in 1959, he was finally forced into exile - followed by over 100,000 destitute refugees. Here, in his own words, he describes what it was like to grow up revered as a deity among his people, reveals his innermost feelings about his role, and discusses the mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. He tells of secret deals struck with the CIA as Tibet continued to struggle for independence, talks freely of the many world leaders he has known, and talks of the West's malaise from his standpoint as a spirtual and temporal figure of world reknown. 'A touching book, that arouses great sympathy for its extraordiary author' - Spectator Publisher: Abacus ISBN: 0349111111 Published: 1998 Paperback: 336 pages Price: £9.99


	Heinrich Harrer - Seven Years in Tibet Heinrich Harrer, already a famous mountaineer and Olympic ski champion, was caught by the outbreak of the Second World War while climbing in the Himalayas. An Austrian national, he was imprisoned by the British in India. By an almost super-human effort, on his third attempt he succeeded in escaping from the internment camp and fled into Tibet. After a series of remarkable experiences in a country never crossed before by a Westerner, Harrer reached the forbidden city of Lhasa. He stayed there for seven years, learned the language and acquired a greater understanding of Tibet and the Tibetans than any Westerner had ever before achieved. He became the friend and tutor of the young Dalai Lama and finally accompanied him into India when he was put to flight by the Red Chinese invasion. Made into a successful motion picture starring Brad Pitt, this is a stunning story of incredible courage and self-reliance set against the backdrop of a mysterious and magnificent culture. 'Like the voyage of the Kon-Tiki, it deserves to take its place among the few great travel stories of our own times' - The Times. 'Few adventureres in this century have had the combined luck and hardihood to return with such news as this. Fewer still have rendered it so powerfully unadorned' - Times Literary Supplement. 'Some books, like some mountains, are lonely and unrivalled peaks, and this is one of these' - The Economist. Publisher: Harper Perennnial ISBN: 0586087079 Published: 2005 Paperback Price: £8.99


	Edmund Hillary - High Adventure 'I went on cutting. We seemed to have been going for a very long time and my confidence was fast evaporating. Bump followed bump with maddening regularity. A patch of shingle barred our way, and I climbed dully up it and started cutting steps around another bump. And then I realised that this was the last bump, for ahead of me the ridge dropped steeply away in a great corniced curve, and out in the distance I could see the pastel shades and fleecy clouds of the highlands of Tibet.' Everest: forbidding, exhilarating, unconquerable. All courageous attempts to reach its summit by heading up the northern side from Tibet had failed. The southern approach through Nepal had never before been climbed, due to its impossibly steep ice-covered slopes and the country's policies. But in 1951 Edmund Hillary joined an expedition to find a new route up Everest from the south, which, together with Tenzing Norgay, led to a new chapter in mountaineering history. The climbers' determination, endurance and battle against the elements culminated with their famous climb in 1953 as they finally reached the summit of this formidable mountain. Hillary's own account of the historic climb is a classic adventurer's memoir, originally published in 1955. It is illustrated with sketches, maps and 24 photographs from the Royal Geographical Society. Publisher: Bloomsbury ISBN: 0747566968 Published: 2003 Paperback: 256 pages Price: £7.99


	Maurice Herzog - Annapurna Move from one nail-biting moment to the next in this enthralling 1952 tale of triumph and frostbite. Herzog was the leader of the French expedition to Annapurna in 1952. This is his account of the conquest of the mountain, more than 8000 metres high, and at that time the highest mountain ever climbed... Publisher: Pimlico ISBN: 0712673938 Published: 1997 Paperback: 288 pages, 215 x 136 mm Price: £10.00


	Nepal - Lonely Planet Looking for the birthplace of the Buddha, the most exciting elephant ride in the subcontinent, the best palace restaurant or just the nearest bus stop? Whether you're seeking spirituality or are moved by the spirit of adventure, this essential guidebook to the 'Abodes of Snow' will take you to a higher place. - Includes trekking, rafting and mountain-biking chapters - Special section on Nepal's colourful festivals - Advice on where to stay, what to eat and how to get around - Responsible tourism section - Useful language chapter and glossary - 53 detailed maps Publisher: Lonely Planet ISBN: 1740594223 Published: 2003, 6th edition Paperback: 384 pages Price: £14.99


	Nepal - Rough Guide The Rough Guide to Nepal is the ultimate guide to this beautiful and varied country. Features include: - Full-colour section introducing Nepal's highlights - Unrivalled accounts of all the sights, from legendary Kathmandu and the peaks around Pokhara, to the jungles and ethnic diversity of the Tarai region - Incisive reviews of the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop, whatever your budget - Detailed chapters on trekking, rafting and mountain-biking - Comprehensive background on Nepalese culture, politics and the environment Publisher: Rough Guides ISBN: 1858288991 Published: 2002 Paperback: 597 pages Price: £13.99


	Nepali Phrasebook All you need is Nepali! In the busy Durbur Square, make a connection with some well-chosen words. Get the low-down on the highlands as you trek through the mountains. Don't just stand there, say something - take control of your Nepal experience. - New pronunciation guide for every word and phrase - Take a hike - detailed trekking and mountaineering chapter - Key festivals, traditional dance and music explored - String your own sentences together with the easy-to-use grammar section - Etiquette and body language pointers Authors: Mary-Jo O'Rourke, Bimal Shrestha Publisher: Lonely Planet ISBN: 1740591925 Published: 2002, 4th edition Paperback: 256 pages Price: £4.50


	Tibet - Footprint Tibet with its slow measured pace of life. Swooping lammergeier, griffons and golden eagles. The cultural heartland of inner Asia. Vibrant blue salt lakes and rare blue sheep. The rarely-glimpsed snow-leopard. An enduring literary heritage. Special features of the Footprint Handbook: - A complete overview of Tibet - Foreword by his holiness the Dalai Lama - Written by a leading expert on Tibet and Tibetan culture Includes Utsang, Kham and Amdo as well as the gateway cities of Kathmandu, Chengdu, Kunming, Lanzhou and Kashgar. Publisher: Footprint ISBN: 1903471303 Published: 2004, 3rd edition Paperback: 880 pages Price: £17.99


	Tibetan Phrasebook Stepping out onto the Barkhor circuit, you're swept along by a sea of chanting pilgrims. You go with the flow as the intriguing procession winds its way clockwise. You peer beyond the whirl of spinning prayer wheels and swirling prayer flags - is that the Jamkhang you can see? This pocket companion is full of phrases to help you out in any situation - not just discovering Buddhist temples. You'll be talking your way around Tibet in no time. - Master menu vocabulary and script - Read up on festival rites and rituals - from incense-burning to cham dances - Get a handle on Tibetan grammar and pronunciation - Find your way around - by pedicab, taxi or bus - Take your understanding of Tibetan body language to higher plains Author: Sandup Tsering Publisher: Lonely Planet ISBN: 1740592336 Published: 2002, 3rd edition Paperback: 256 pages Price: £4.50


	Sacred Journey Click picture to look inside Who are all these bearded men smiling at the camera, their faces painted with vivid colors and their bodies emaciated? They are babas, sadhus, yogis and gurus - the holy men of India and Nepal. There are four to five million of these ascetics, seeking enlightenment, or a 'higher reality', via extreme, self-imposed, physical and mental deprivation. Fascinated by their wisdom, David Howard traveled from the Ganges in India to the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal to photograph them and learn more about their culture. The result of his quest is Sacred Journey, a book that focuses on the Hindu and Buddhist life and rituals. Through stunning, vibrant portraits and colourful descriptions, Howard imparts the basic tenets and practices of the two religions, as well as the more extreme rites performed by the many holy people he encountered. Pictured are the men, women and children of India and Nepal, as well as their shrines, jewelry, costumes, statues and masks. From cremation to marriage, Howard has documented all of the most important rituals. Author: David Howard Publisher: Taschen ISBN: 3822828068 Published: 2003 Flexicover: 190 x 245 mm, 224 pages Price: £9.99


	Tibetan Prayer Flags Flying on Tibetan mountain passes, temple roofs and wherever Tibetans now make their home, gaily coloured prayer flags scatter blessings, mantras and good luck messages on the winds, to be blown around the world. This pack contains 15 hand-printed authentic cotton flags, or lung-ta. They have been specially designed by a Tibetan master artist, and display rich imagery and symbolism in the five traditional colours. Hang them in a special place and let your messages spread health, wealth and goodwill. The accompanying book describes the origin and significance of prayer flags, and presents a stunning collection of full-colour photographs of the flags in use, both inside and outside Tibet. Author and photographer Diane Barker explains the symbolism of the prayer flags included, and suggests how they can be used at home. Pack contains string of 15 authentic prayer flags and a 64-page full-colour illustrated book. Publisher: Connections Book Publishing Author: Diane Barker ISBN: 1859061060 Published: 2003 Hardback: 64 pages plus 15 flags Price: £14.99


	Buddhist Tales A collection of Buddhist tales from countries including India, China, Japan and Tibet. All of the tales in this anthology can be enjoyed at face value as exciting and dramatic adventures, with Zen anecdotes dividing the longer stories. The tales also offer ways of exploring such concepts as generosity, compassion and life after death, as well as reminding us of the limits of the ego and the value of a down-to-earth sense of humour. Beautifully illustrated, Buddhist Tales will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good story. Publisher: Barefoot Books Retold by: Sherab Chodzin Illustrator: Marie Cameron ISBN: 1841480096 Published: 1999 Paperback: 80 pages, 264 x 216 mm Price: £8.99


	Encyclopedia of Religion - Eyewitness Guide Click picture to look inside The Encyclopedia of Religion presents all the world faiths in a visually appealing way, taking a detailed look at the six main religions: Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This book provides answers about what the followers of different religions really believe and allows readers to learn about the ideals of each faith. An up-to-date reference section provides readers with a concise and illuminating insight into the common themes of religions and their spread throughout the world. Integration of words and pictures enables readers of different ages and abilities to access information. Includes more than 1,200 photographs and illustrations, and explains the practices and teachings of each religion as well as the art and architecture associated with each faith. Suitable for children 8 years and over Publisher: Dorling Kindersley ISBN: 1405303050 Published: 2004 Hardback: 304 pages, 216 x 280 mm Price: £19.99

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