Memories of travel to Russia and Asia
Cheryl K. Moskal
October 6, 2024
I hope everyone sees this documentary of Tibet. Some have a unique interest in China and its neighbors. DW (German news in English) is excellent news that compliments NHK (Japanese) & US mainstream news (which can be verified.)
DW also has great documentaries. One right now is about Tibet.
Tibet, the Dalai Lama and the power struggle with China (Deutsche Welle)
Today was Part II. One can still see the documentary on DW website or app. I'm glad I went in April 2024 to Bhutan. Many photos of Tibet remind me of Bhutan & its people.
China took control of Tibet in 1951. The documentary shows what is happening there. Of course, the children are taken from their families to boarding schools to indoctrinate the children to the Chinese way only & to forget their Tibetan heritage. One thing I didn't realize is how far China's expansion plans go. We know of China's expansion plans of Taiwan, and some south ocean small islands and waterways, but didn't realize the concern that the Philippines have of China's aggression. Didn't realize that Indian territory had been breached by China in 2023 & 2020, both sides of Bhutan. India is actively building up forces to combat a potential attack by China. Interesting.
As far as how great a country looks. Russia has its billionaires, as do most countries, including China. Wonder how many of them are very close to
their autocratic leaders or in the higher echelon of the leadership themselves. I was fortunate to go to Russia for 3 weeks in April/May of 1973. As a young girl from a small-town area, I don't believe I was ever in a 5-star restaurant or hotel. I, along w/the other students & professors, were amazed at how beautiful the hotels & restaurants were that we stayed inLeningrad, Kiev, Odessa, & Moscow. We ate caviar, steaks, etc. We had all the food we could ever want to eat. Even saw a beautiful wedding party taking place at the hotel. It would have rivaled any wedding we have in the US. And the people in that hotel & those guests were dressed in fine clothing & jewelry. Of course, this was the "elites," probably government officials, etc. Our train trips between some of the cities were at night, so one couldn't see much of the countryside. The trains were not that nice. And anyone who has ever been to Russia knows of the beautiful buildings that were constructed under the Tsars rule. Again, one could be very impressed.
Either in Dec/Jan of 1988/89/90 (can't remember the year, I went to China on a college trip. I wasn't in college but heard about it & signed up). Again, one could be very impressed with what we were shown. Everyone appeared to be nicely dressed and happy.
But of course, on both trips (& in my 2018 Russia trip - 3rd) we were exposed to the best (I traveled on my own w/a visa during 8/91, so was able to see more downtrodden areas). If one had gone to parts of NY, LA, or any great US city in the 1960's, they would have thought the same. But if they drove through the poverty-stricken SE, they may have felt differently. Or if they were exposed to our treatment of black minorities, again they may feel differently. So, it is what one sees & doesn't see.
Watching or reading or listening to a variety of news, opens one's mind and gives a clearer picture of the world.