A trip to Tibet changed my life
<p><strong>Over60 community member, Don Cullen, 68, talks about how a trip to Tibet changed his perspective on the world and convinced him to do some much-needed humanitarian work.</strong></p>
<p>I sit in the back of Samye Monastery, the oldest monastery in all of Tibet, my back to the wall, eyes closed listening to the mystical sounds of 100 Monks chanting in unison. The drums, the drifting spirit of incense, created by burning Juniper, all seem to reach the soul and lift it to a seemingly higher plane.</p>
<p>At 68 I take small groups on an adventure to the Land of Snows, twice a year, where we step back some 1,500 years and become part of this transcendent realm.</p>
<p>I have been travelling to this magical part of the Himalaya for some 16 years and for the past 10 of those years, I have been actively involved in doing humanitarian work, plus taking in like-minded people to view our projects and stay among the villagers and nomads.</p>
<p>From the age of 17, Tibet called me like the Sirens in Ulysses. It became a sort of obsession and the library became my base to learn and read about this land of mystery. After 35 years, with my head full of the history and culture learned from my studies, my dream became a reality! I travelled there for the first time. Tibet had been closed for 1,000 years, yet some got through, Heinrich Harrier, Alexander David Neal and a handful of others at different times. It officially opened it’s doors to the west in 1985, yet not many travelled there until the 1990s when news spread to the west that one could finally travel there. Even now, relatively few westerners make the journey.</p>
<p><img width="497" height="315" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/3392/don-cullen-2_497x315.jpg" alt="Don Cullen 2"/></p>
<p>It is not for everyone, but for those seeking a journey of adventure, it is the most fulfilling thing one can do.</p>
<p>Over the years, we have made some wonderful contacts that have guided us on many adventures. These delightful people look after our small bands of explorers to make their trip a memorable experience.</p>
<p>Ten years ago, we decided to assist with humanitarian aid projects and launched programs in educational, medical, agricultural and basic assistance to poor families. We decided to be non-political, non-religious, to be non-biased so that we could cross boundaries with one aim in mind and that is to help fellow human beings. Part of our travel allows us to visit some of these programs where we interact with the children and villagers. We sometimes stop off and drink tea with nomadic families and share in their unbounded hospitality.</p>
<p>Having travelled there dozens of times, one never gets tired of the tranquillity of this place on top of the world, the feeling of peacefulness, the slow pace of life, the friendliness of the people all combine to reinvigorate the soul and see the good in human nature.</p>
<p><em>Find out more at Don's charitable organisation <a href="http://www.tvpaustralia.org.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tibetan Village Project Australia Inc.</strong></span></a></em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/08/confessions-of-a-house-swapper/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>We spoke to an Over60 member about her experiences with house swapping.</strong></span></a></p>
