Thupten Gyatso

I was lucky to meet Thupten in my travels through Nepal. Very open and friendly person to newcomers like myself- it felt like our meaningful human connection started right rom the start. We talked a lot about Tibet (which I was very much interested in)- and Thupten reminded me, that there was a very active and lively Tibetan community living in Pokhara, which I wasn't even aware of! He organizes the tours , which put the newcomers in touch with the Tibetans in exile, their history, culture and customs. I was happy to be on one of these tours and meet the Tibetan refugees in their modest yet beautiful surroundings in Pokhara, which I would have never been able to do without Thupten and his tour. There is a great psychological depth to these meetings with Tibetan refugees- the one that noone but a true Tibetan, connected with the community- like Thupten, can initiate. The talks of the elders about escaping Tibet from the Chinese, the shared , real Tibetan lunch and snacks, the meeting with the Tibetan doctor and the Tibetan buddhist monk, exploring the Tibetan refugees' everyday life, etc. etc. There are many locations around Pokhara where all this happens- Thupten is truly a master in organizing it so smoothly, with a comfortable van, so that one doesn't even take notice of the road traffic! He is also very well respected in the local, Pokhara Tibetan community and it was a great pleasure to feel associated with him wherever I went! To anyone visiting Pokhara and interested in Tibetan culture: this is not the one to miss!