Tibet and Kailash (plus Kathmandu)

How long has it been since three years ago, when we first met people from Nepal and Tibet? So many things have happened in this passage of time, but especially: why did fate turn against the Nepalese population with the earthquake a year ago, destroying people and places? In Tibet, it turned against them 60 years ago with an invasion that also destroyed people and places. Poor regions, but proud people, willing to make sacrifices just to uphold their principles, strong in religions that transcend earthly ideologies and the mountains that separate them. Perhaps it was also for this reason, to demonstrate our presence and solidarity, that we decided to repeat the journey, at least partially, with different destinations. This time, there are seven of us, intending to discover (or rediscover) the environments and spirituality of those who inhabit the slopes south and north of the Himalayas.
The itinerary includes the Kailash trek, which, considering the geographical and political challenges, represents an ambitious goal in terms of accessibility and completion. The surprises begin even before departure: after having organized everything in advance and securing flights to Kathmandu with Etihad, we planned a one-day stopover in the Nepalese capital, a flight to Lhasa, a car journey of approximately 1500 km to the base of the Sacred Mountain, and return to Nepal by land, taking advantage of one of the few passages offered by the Himalayan range. However, a month before departure, we were informed that the TTB (Tibet Travel Bureau) had cancelled the permits and that foreigners would not be allowed to transit: we will therefore have to return by plane via Lhasa, retracing the exhausting journey in reverse.