Here are some travel tips from me…
Chang is served in a steel kettle.
If you find yourself in eastern Tibet, and are invited into a farmer’s house for refreshments, make sure you refuse the offer first. It’s the most polite thing you can do.
When you do accept, go upstairs, since the bottom floor will be for livestock.
- Yak cheese is dried for days in the Tibetan sun
Avoid bumping into the hanging baskets of drying yak cheese.
If offered treats, like tsampa (roasted barley flour combined with yak butter tea), make sure you eat using your right hand. It’s the “good” hand in Tibet, and the one you should use for everything from eating to snacking.
Finally, compliment the host on the chang, or milky-colored translucent barley liquor. Just don’t let the light bubbles and fresh taste mislead you — it’s strong stuff!
