EVENT: TIBET: ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD

This lecture will bring us into Tibet, and the fascination of this spectacular land. We will meet different ethnic groups and visit the most important monasteries, the archaeological remains to understand their particular history. Following the steps of Professor Tucci's expeditions (in the year 1933 and 1935) we will visit the most remote area of Tibet, largely closed to tourism, this region is particularly important in understanding the Tantric form of Buddhism that developed there during the VIII and the XII century. We will reach Toling, the ancient capital of Guge's kingdom, and we will follow the pilgrims to Kailasa mountain, one of the most sacred lands of the world. The Tucci/Ghersi archive is unique, their pictures are the only evidence of the monasteries and the most important masterpieces of Western Tibet, which were destroyed during the Chinese invasions of the fifties.

David Bellatalla is an anthropologist, member of the International Institute for Mongolian Studies and the Mongolian Academy of Science since 1998, and has carried out extensive fieldwork in Mongolia since 1992, working with the Aghin-Buryat, Tsaatan and other nomadic groups throughout Mongolia. In 2002, he co-ordinated the Anthropological Section of the 8th International Congress of Mongolists held in Ulan Bator.

Course Code 054009 Thu 7.30-9pm Aug 18 $27 bookings on 6488 2433 or online www.extension.uwa.edu.au Click on Extension Courses and go to Intellectual Adventures