Embark on an exhilarating journey through the mystical lands of the the Himalayas in this captivating exploration of a lost civilization and ancient legen. Delve into the mystery known as Shangri-La and Shambhala, and interact with local cultures that have preserved the secrets of the legendary realm for generations.

Appealing to the adventure traveler or armchair reader who simply wishes to browse and dream, this guide promises to lead them into the glorious reality and breathtaking landscapes of the Himalayas.

Kelsang and Dukar Kaiser, my sister Elsa. Kel sang, Duwhat and Kaiser, I said, trying to remember the very unusual-sounding name, though the contrast with the obviously German family name had me puzzled, when the attractive young couple left. Our next-door neighbors are Tibetan by birth, German Swiss through adoption. Their life stories, although short, read like a movie plot, my sister Gloria explained. I met the beautiful Kelsang and Dukar Kaiser again a few months later when my husband and I visited my sister. We barely made it to Bhutan in 1959. Eventually my family settled in Dharamsala, India, practically next door to the Dalai Lama, Kelsang offered. Two years later in 1961, my family was also forced to flee the country, Dukar contributed. In my ignorance of genetic code, I found Dukar more Tibetan looking. He impressed all of us with his vast knowledge on many subjects, which he expressed with an articulate command of the English language. Although his persona could have been viewed as reserved, he was both gregarious and sociable. Why dont you ask them if you could write their life stories, Elsa? I think they would like it, Gloria suggested. They did, and I spent the next few days interviewing them. The story unfolded slowly, though only partially, due to their tender age: they were five and seven years old when they fled Tibet with their family as political refugees. The moments they never forgot were the fear and the horrors of what they saw, the constant hunger, and the weariness of the long journey. After many months of research and three moves, military transfer, from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts and back to the Atlantic, I was able to put together a story based on the personal tragedy and triumph of these two youngsters.

This edition of one of Rocky Mountain Books? bestselling hiking guides contains the latest updates to routes, trails and roads in the areas around Cranbrook, Kimberley, Creston, Invermere, Radium and Fernie, located between the Rocky Mountains in the east and the Purcell Mountains in the west, including the Akamina Kishinena, Top of the World, Elk Lakes, St. Mary?s Alpine and Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Parks. This volume will entice hikers of all abilities. As with previous editions, readers will continue to appreciate the author?s detailed descriptions and personal anecdotes, complete with colour maps and photos, related to one of the most stunning areas in western Canada. Janice Strong continues to enhance the outdoor experience for hiking enthusiasts from across the country and around the world.

In 2002, author, filmmaker, and economist Laurence Brahm, inspired by James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon and his own quest for meaning, began his search for Shangri-la. Some say that Shangri-la can be found in sacred Tibet, or maybe in wild Qinghai; others believe it can be found in artistic Yunnan in the southwest of China. The author discovered the spiritual truth that Shangri-la is not a place; rather, it is a state of mind. As Brahm hitchhiked through western China, well off the beaten track, he recorded the interior changes and illuminations he experienced as his consciousness expanded far beyond the everyday cares of his years of urban life in Beijing. The insights of his journey and his meetings with others who searched for their own versions of Shangri-la, helped him to understand that the archetypal goal he sought was actually a state of consciousness. Shangri-la may be found in a cup of café latte or yak-butter tea—if we search carefully enough and with mindfulness and compassion. Searching for Shangri-la is the first book of the Himalayan Trilogy . The reader will discover the need for fresh economic paradigms that call for compassionate capital, the empowerment of people, and prioritization of the environment. Spirituality can be more powerful than materialism. The need for sustainability has rarely been so beautifully and eloquently defended.

Located in the southeast corner of British Columbia, the Windermere Valley is at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia. The ideal base for exploring this spectacular country of the northern Purcells and the western slopes of the Canadian Rockies is the picturesque town of Invermere. From short strolls to dayhikes to overnighters to major, committing mountaineering routes, this book has all the information you need to get out there and enjoy the most beautiful spots at Spillimacheen River, Horsethief, Toby and Frances creeks and Mount Assiniboine as well as in the Stanford Range, the Bugaboos, Kootenay National Park and Height of the Rockies. Here you'll find descriptions of not only the hikes themselves but the highway approaches, accommodations and services, emergency contacts and much, much more.

Provides comprehensive information on the geography, history, wildlife, governmental structure, economy, diversity, peoples, religion, and culture of Tibet.