The Hidden Faces of Mongolia and Tibet

Transcription

1 The Hidden Faces of Mongolia and Tibet A Yale Week in Rome July 27 - August 11, 2015 Stephen Davis 98 PhD, Professor of Religious Studies Dianna E.E. Kleiner, Yale University

2 Dear Yale Traveler Journey with us to explore the magnificent cultures of Mongolia and Tibet; two nations which share Buddhism as the crucial glue of collective identity for populations with no clear geographical roots. The trip begins in Tibet an arid desert hemmed in by beige mountains and a sky whose hue verges on cobalt at this altitude. Visit Samye and Drepung, two of Tibet s most historic monasteries; walk the halls of the Dalai Lamas former residences at Norbulingka and Potala Palace; and explore the Barkhor, the pilgrimage district surrounding Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. Fly through Beijing to Mongolia, which became a democracy in 1990 after 70 years as a socialist satellite state of the Soviet Union. Visit the outstanding museums of Ulaan Baatar and monasteries where monks mingle with nomads from the countryside. Head west to the Gobi Desert - a place of subtle colors, stark clear air and an utterly soundless landscape which stretches a thousand miles across northern Asia. Visit Karakorum, where Genghis Khan began his conquest of the known world. Stephen Davis 98 PhD will share his extensive knowledge in the archaeology of religion and the history of monasticism and pilgrimage to provide a unique perspective on Tibet and Mongolia. Join him and other Yale alumni on this wonderful itinerary for an unforgettable journey. We encourage you to make your reservation today. (Spaces allocated on a first-come-first-served basis). This trip combines the security, ease and value of group travel with opportunities for independent exploration. You will enjoy the camaraderie of traveling with a group of like-minded people and, during your free time, feel the thrill of making your own discoveries! Sincerely yours, Kathy Edersheim, Senior Director International Alumni Relations and Travel Association of Yale Alumni

3 ITINERARY Welcome Phone Call TSEDANG Tuesday, April 21 (tentative) Join the group at 6PM EST for a pre-trip welcome call with the professor to learn more about what to expect and get the chance to ask any questions you have. CHENGDU (D) Tuesday, July 28 Independent arrival and transfer to the Sofitel Hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant this evening. CHENGDU Wednesday, July 29 This morning, visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base. After lunch, visit the former home of poet Dufu. During his time in Chengdu he composed over 200 poems which remain highly valued in Chinese literature. TSEDANG Thursday, July 30 Morning flight to Lhasa. Head east to Tsedang stopping en route at the at the Drolma Lhakhang temple where the images preserved represent fine examples of Tibetan religious art. Later this afternoon, visit Yambu Lhakang, the oldest dwelling place in Tibet and once the home of the Yarlung kings. Overnight at the Tsedang Hotel. Friday, July 31 Full day excursion to Samye Monastery, Tibet s first monastery, located in a green valley and visited by boat. It was founded in 779 after King Trisong Detsen proclaimed Buddhism the official religion of Tibet. LHASA Saturday, August 1 Morning drive to Lhasa. Upon arrival, visit the Lhasa Med- Tsee-Khang, a traditional Tibetan medicine clinic which provides education and training in Tibetan Medicine. After lunch begin exploring Lhasa at the Dalai Lama s Summer Palace, known in Tibetan as Norbulingka. It was from here that the current Dalai Lama fled Tibet in Overnight at the St. Regis Lhasa Resort. LHASA Sunday, August 2 After breakfast meet with staff from Tibet Heritage Fund (THF) who have set out to rehabilitate the old city and its structures. Continue on to visit perhaps the most sacred temple in Tibet; the Jokhang. It dates back to the 7th century and was built over a mythical lake. After lunch explore the Potala Palace. Built of wood, earth and stone, the Potala has thirteen stories containing a maze of rooms. It has served as the home of successive Dalai Lamas until Before dinner, meet with staff from Tibetan Village Project, a non-political organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development while preserving Tibet s heritage.az/l LHASA Monday, August 3 Morning visit to Drepung Monastery, known for its focus on debate as a teaching tool for young monks. Enjoy a chance to watch these young monks as they debate questions central to the Buddhist doctrine. After lunch meet with Nyima Wangdui to learn about the art of Tibetan Thangkas. ULAAN BAATAR Tuesday, August 4 Fly through Beijing to Ulaan Baatar. Upon a late evening arrival, transfer to the newly-opened, centrally located Tuushin Hotel. Mongolia remains a remote destination - another advantage in a country rich in history, culture and unspoiled scenery. ULAAN BAATAR Wednesday, August 5 Begin exploring Ulaan Baatar at Gandan Monastery. Continue on to Suhbataar Square and the Mongolian Stock Exchange. Shares are traded every weekday and there is a public gallery for visitors to watch. After lunch visit the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum which houses a fine collection of art works. Stop at Mary and Martha s - a social enterprise company that is working with local artisans to revive traditional craft traditions Before dinner meet with Dr. Dulam, a professor at the Mongolian National University and head of a center for the study of Mongolian traditional nomadic culture. ULAAN BAATAR Thursday, August 6 Morning excursion to the Palace of Bogd Gegeen, a museum containing Buddhist sculptures and wonderful embroidery. Continue on to the Museum of Natural History. Most impressive is the Paleontology section. There are petrified eggs and bones of two complete skeletons of the flesh-eating giant Tarbosaurus and the duckbilled Saurolophus. End the day at the Choijin Lama Temple, a classic example of traditional Buddhist architecture.

4 This evening enjoy a performance of the Tumen Ekh, an ensemble which will present a rare selection of ancient Mongolian performing arts and culture. GOBI DESERT Friday, August 7 Travel by scheduled airline to the Gobi Desert this morning landing on the flat stony plain of this vast area one of the last great wilderness areas left on earth. Begin exploring on arrival. There are few settlements of any size, but several million nomads roam this empty quarter continually on the move, shifting their herds to new pastures and water holes. Overnight in yurts at the beautiful Three Camel Lodge. GOBI DESERT Saturday, August 8 Enjoy a full day excursion into the desert to explore this incredible space, now part of UNESCO s global network of biosphere reserves. Visit the small Natural History Museum and continue on for a picnic lunch near the stunning Flaming Cliffs. Enjoy an afternoon excursion to admire sand dunes and meet with a traditional nomadic family who raise camels, horses and yaks. KARAKORUM Sunday, August 9 Fly to Ulaan Baatar and continue by road to Karakorum. Visit the remains of Genghis Khan s capital and the monastery of Erdenezuu. Explore the 13th century remains which at that time was arguably the world s most important city. After lunch visit Erdenezuu Monastery, built in 1586 after Buddhism arrived in Mongolia through China. The builders used the stones left from Genghis Khan s abandoned capital. Overnight at a beautiful yurt camp offering stunning views of the Mongolian Steppes. Munkh Tenger Ger Camp. KARAKORUM Monday, August 10 Morning drive to visit Shant Hiid Monastery to participate in the morning religious ceremonies. Continue through incredible landscapes, past herds of wild horses to a number of ancient graves dotting the surrounding steppes. Enjoy a traditional Mongolian barbecue on the steppes surrounded by nothing but open landscape, horses and curious nomads. Return to camp for a chance to practice your horse-riding skills by riding a Mongolian horse, known for the small size and speedy gallop! RETURN Tuesday, August 11 Return to Ulaan Baatar for your fights home. Note: Itinerary subject to change. Some excursions in this program involve a significant amount of walking. Included meals indicated each day as B/L/D = Breakfast/Lunch/Dinne Program costs and included features Trip Price: $9,100 (Per person, based on double occupancy) Single Supplement: $1,680 (limited availability) Group size limited to 34 participants PROGRAM COST INCLUDES: Educational Program of lectures and discussions with a Yale lecturer. Accommodations in hotels as outlined in the itinerary based on double occupancy, all meals listed with unlimited drinks, bottled water kept on the bus, sightseeing and excursions as listed, transportation in a deluxe, air conditioned motor coach, the services of a Distant Horizons escort and an Iranian escort, local guides, and all gratuities. PROGRAM COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Airfare into Chengdu and back from Ulan Baatar, meals not specified in the itinerary; visa fees, personal items such as laundry, , fax or telephone calls, room service, independent and private transfers and excess luggage charges. Any increases in the in-tour airfare (included as part of the program cost), security, or fuel surcharges imposed after the initial pricing of this program are not included. Airfare is subject to change without notice by the airlines. General information The infrastructure in Tibet and Mongolia is good with modern roads and buses. Hotels are comfortable with private bathrooms and air-conditioning. Food is freshly prepared and we eat at delightful local restaurants. More details will be provided upon registering for the trip.

5 Yale Educational Travel Association of Yale Alumni Box New Haven, CT Reservations contact: or Yale Lecturer Stephen Davis 98 Ph.D. is Professor of Religious Studies and Master of Pierson College at Yale. While his primary expertise lies in the history of ancient and medieval Christianity in the eastern Mediterranean, he also teaches courses on social memory and religious practice, and on pilgrimage and monasticism in comparative global perspective. Davis is actively involved in archaeology: for the past decade, he has been Executive Director of the Yale Monastic Archaeology Project and in that capacity oversees survey work and excavations at two monasteries in Egypt. Some of his publications include The Cult of St. Thecla: A Tradition of Women s Piety in Late Antiquity (Oxford UP 2001) and Medieval Egypt (Oxford UP 2008), and most recently, Christ Child: Cultural Memories of a Young Jesus (Yale UP 2014). He is currently at work on a volume on monasticism for the Very Short Introduction series at Oxford University Press and his lectures for this AYA trip will directly relate to that research, with a special focus on monastic traditions and sites in Mongolia and Tibet. sofitel wanda hotel Located on the Funan River and close to the city center, the Sofitel Wanda offers elegant rooms and excellent facilities. tsedang hotel Surrounded by ancient temples and monasteries, Tsedang provides basic rooms and adequate services. four points - sheraton Reader s Corner Want to learn more about Mongolia or Tibet? Here are some selections to get you started. All trip participants recieve a list of suggested books recommended by the program faculty. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford Weatherford, who has lived and studied in Mongolia, interweaves his own travels and field work on the Central Asian steppes, much of it on horseback, with a lively portrait of Genghis Khan and the world of the medieval Mongols. The Mongols introduced not only mayhem, but also paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass and trousers to their far-flung empire. Essential Tibetan Buddhism by Robert Thurman The foremost Western scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, Thurman has chosen well from that tradition s sacred literature and helpfully includes suggested further reading, explanatory notes and a directory of sacred sites. Located in the center of Lhasa, Four Points provides comfortable rooms featuring contemporary designs. tuushin hotel Situated at the center of Ulaanbaatar, the Tuushin Hotel provides tasteful rooms and gracious service three camel lodge Built in the heart of the Gobi, the Three Camel Lodge combines accommodation in traditional yurts with a helpful staff. munkh tenger ger camp The Munkh Tenger Ger Gamp offers accommodation in comfortable ger tents with a lovely surrounding landscape.

6 RESERVE YOUR TRIP TO TIBET AND MONGOLIA TODAY Enclosed is a deposit for $ ($1,000 deposit per person) to hold place(s) on the Yale The Hidden Faces of Mongolia and Tibet trip July 27 - August 11, ) Name as on passport 2) Name as on passport Relationship 3) Name as on passport Relationship 4) Name as on passport Relationship* *How is the person related to the person making the deposit? Address: City State Zip Primary Phone Secondary Phone Accommodations I wish to have a single accommodation at an additional $1,680 (Limited availability please call) I will share accommodations with: (Form sent separately) I request assistance in securing a roommate but will accept a single, if one is available at this time, and pay the single supplement. Should a roommate be found, I understand the supplement will no longer apply. Reservations are subject to availability and processed on a first come, first served basis. Reservations to be paid in full by May 27, 2015 (60 days prior departure). Reservations received after this date must be accompanied by payment in full. Final payment may be made by personal check, payable to Distant Horizons. I/We confirm that I/We have carefully read the Terms and Condtions and Responsibility section of this brochure and agree to their terms on behalf of myself and the members of my party named above. Signature(s) Date: Visit to book online or return the above form with your deposit check payable to Distant Horizons to Association of Yale Alumni, P.O. Box , New Haven, C T Phone: (203) Fax: (203) v I would like to receive more information about the following trips: (check a box to receive a brochure) In Search of Ancient Lost Cities: Rome to Lisbon April 27 May 8, 2015 A Yale Week in Barcelona May 11 May 18, 2015 Private Villages of Italy May 19 May 26, 2015 Waterways of the Tsars: Moscow to St. Petersburg Aboard Volga Dream II June 11-21, 2015 National Parks of the Southwest: A Family Exploration June 23 - July 2, 2015 Provence Immersion: A Month in Aix-en-Provence June 27 - July 26,2015 Terms and Conditions CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Distant Horizons and the Association of Yale Alumni reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason, including insufficient number of participants, and to decline to accept or retain any person as a participant at any time. Should this happen, refunds will be made without obligation, although we cannot be held responsible for any additional costs already incurred by participants. The tour price is based on a number of people traveling together. If bookings fall below the minimum required, passengers will be advised of additional costs for that departure date. If a participant cancels, the following refunds will be available upon written notice of cancellation to Yale Educational Travel: Notice more than 90 days prior to departure: a refund less a $500 cancellation charge. Notice between 90 days and 30 days prior to departure: a refund less 75% of trip price. No refund shall be issued if cancellation is received less than 30 days prior to departure date. No refunds shall be issued after the tour has commenced. No refunds shall be issued for occasional missed meals, sightseeing tours or any unused services. INSURANCE: We highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. An application for travel insurance will be mailed upon confirmation. Neither the Association of Yale Alumni nor Distant Horizons accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline ticket or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. RESPONSIBILITY: Distant Horizons and the Association of Yale Alumni act only in the capacity of agents for the hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines or owners or contractors providing accommodations, transportation or other services. As a result, all coupons, receipts or tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier. By acceptance of tour membership, the participant agrees that neither Distant Horizons nor the Association of Yale Alumni nor any of their subsidiaries shall become liable or responsible for personal injury, damage to persons or property, loss, delay or irregularity caused by persons not controlled by it, such as (without limitation) airlines, bus and shipping companies, suppliers of accommodations or other services, or resulting from any acts of God, defects in vehicles, strikes, wars, whether declared or otherwise, civil disturbances, medical or customs regulations, acts of terrorism, epidemics or government restrictions. Distant Horizons and the Association of Yale Alumni cannot be held responsible for hotel changes or substitutions, unfavorable weather or closure of access routes due to bad weather conditions. Distant Horizons and the Association of Yale Alumni are not responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the participant as a result of the above mentioned causes. Tour participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of these terms and conditions and signifies acceptance of, and consents to, all of the terms and conditions set forth herein, on behalf of any participants they may act for and for themselves when registering for, or making payments on, this tour. Please note that participants must be in good physical condition and be able to walk for long distances over uneven cobblestones and up and down stairs without problems. This is a rigorous, fast-paced program. QUESTIONS: Please contact Yale Educational Travel at (203) or edtravel@yale.edu Distant Horizons is a California Seller of Travel (CST # ) and a participant in the California Travel Restitution Fund. Information regarding the rights of California residents to make a claim may be found at tcrcinfo.org. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.