I have been collecting dZi in India, Pakistan and Nepal for over 30 years, and over that time I have gained an extensive knowledge of dZi, especially in relation to whether the beads are genuine or not. Sadly I have not yet been to Tibet, due to
the constraints on travelling around the country. Unfortunately all tourists are monitored by the Chinese and are not really allowed to travel freely. I find it impossible to visit there under these circumstances.

 

Below are some pictures of my favourite places in India where I also find dZi. Also some pictures of Tibet are included.

 

---

 

 

 

McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, current home of the Dalai Lama

 

    

Dharamsala from McLeod Ganj

 

 

 

Temple in Temple Road McLeod Ganj

 

 

Giant Prayer Wheel in Temple above

 

 

Dhola Dur Mountains above McLeod Ganj

 

 

 

Dhola Dur Mountains above McLeod Ganj

 

 

Protest against Chinese occupation of Tibet in May 2004

 

 

 

 

Little Vagator Beach

 

 

Big Vagator Beach

 

 

 

Sunset at Vagator

 

 

Shiva Carving on "Spaghetti" Beach, Vagator

 

 

Cattle on the Beach

 

 

 

My favourite beach shack "Shiva Restaurant" in Vagator with Vinod, the boss.

 

 

 

 

Crazy looking Banyan tree near Baga

 

 

Another shot of the tree, like something by Dali!

 

 

Traditional Outrigger Fishing Boat, Fort Aguada

 

 

 

Fort Aguada Beach

 

 

Large Kingfisher fishing in the sea at Vagator.       

 

 

Arambol Beach

 

 

Bizzare Fruiting Jack Fruit Tree, Anjuna

 

 

 

 

Malana Village 3000+ meters above sea level. Much of it was destroyed in a fire in 2008.

 

 

 Kasol Village with Parvati River in front.

 

 

Himalayas above Manikaran before snow storm

 

 

Himalayas above Manikaran after snow storm

 

 

Parvati River at Kasol

 

 

The Himalayas

 

 

Parvati River cutting through small gorge

 

 

Parvati River at Manikaran

 

 

Local footpath in forest between Kasol and Chhchh(yes it's really spelt that way!)

 

 

Valley off Kasol            

 

 

Local children in Kasol

 

 

The Enfield Bullet, once Royal, now not so.

 

 

Typical Indian shop, Kasol 

 

 

Dodgy local scaffolding, Kasol.

 

 

Sikh Gurudwara, Manikaran with Parvati River in full spate

 

 

Parvati river at Manikaran

 

 

Pots of rice being cooked in a hot spring, Shiva Temple, Manikaran

 

 

Temple destroyed by floods, Manikaran

 

 

 

                Parvati River in calm phase, Kasol                                                      A devotee of Lord Shiva

 

 

 

 

Early morning by the ghats. 2001

 

 

 

Pushkar Ghats 2001

 

 

 

Pushkar from the rooftops 1996

 

 

As above

 

 

 

---

 

 

 The following pictures are of Tibet at its best. I have never been there because the Chinese do not allow foreign tourists

to travel freely or unescorted. When and if they do, I shall definitely go and visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think that you will agree that Tibet is the most stunningly beautiful place. The terrible shame to me is that the freedom

of these wonderful people has been usurped by the Chinese government, and I would urge you to contact your government representatives and register your disapproval and ask them to put pressure on the Chinese Government to bring an end

to this occupation and allow the Tibetans autonomy in their own land.