Many say that Lhasa has changed more in the last 10 years than it has in the past 100 years, or even 200 years and there may well be some truth to this. Eastern Journeys' CEO, David Allardice first visited Tibet in the summer of 1988, only a few years after Tibet was partially opened to foreigners, and he confirms how much has changed in Lhasa though in places, particularly in the countryside, how little has changed. Having come from a nation controlled by its monasteries where the religious scriptures were revered, where families were eager to have their younger sons enter the monastic life and where agriculture was the only industry known to the vast majority of the population, Tibet's capital Lhasa is slowly becoming a 21st century city, where kids roam with baseball caps and mobile phones, where internet access is now seen at various cafés around town, where the latest models of note-book computers can easily be bought and where fashion trends are even making an impression. OK, so there aren't the familiar burger and coffee brands from the west though looking back at where Lhasa has come from in the past 10 years it's fairly impressive as to what is seen today, certainly at a superficial level. It is however the word 'superficial' in the last paragraph that is the key-word and you will quickly find, though perhaps take longer to absorb, that the trappings of 21st century life really don't mean that much to most Tibetans. Lhasa has come from being one of Asia's least developed cities to a city that has seen the benefits of economic and material development though is this the most important issue to today's Lhasa residents? Certainly if you ask the better educated and younger generation this development is crucial in helping keep them in Tibet. Family ties do remain the essence of society though in this more global world they see opportunities both in Lhasa as well as in Chinese cities and cities around the world. It is however notable that the religious aspect of their lives is one constant and here there really isn't any change as along with the mobile phone there is more than likely going to be a set of prayer beads in the other hand. The better educated 'haves' are however a small minority in this very poor region of China and the 'have-not's' who do live in Lhasa but mainly throughout the rest of Tibet continue to struggle in search of a life that keeps food on the table and that keeps young children fit and healthy. Their religion and family ties are what keep them going, and when you see a young monk prostrating himself along the main road between Lhasa and Shigatze with 100 miles to go, one quickly realizes that material possessions in this country are not necessarily all that important. Visiting the countryside at harvest time when the whole village is toiling in the fields, the sound of folk songs is perhaps the most memorable as this is the life that Tibet's country folk know and are very reluctant to give up. On the up-side roads are being improved, electricity and communications installed so it wouldn't be fair to say that those in the countryside haven't see any benefits from the economic development of this remote region, though sadly it doesn't seem to be the major priority for the governing regime. Religion, as you will see on however short a visit, remains at the centre of almost every Tibetan's life and although there is relief that the monasteries were re-opened there will always be a desire for the old days when the monasteries were at the heart of every community. It's probably fair to summarize that Chinese involvement in and control over Tibet is here to stay and both communities are generally endeavouring to seek ways to live in harmony. We do stress that Eastern Journeys only employs local Tibetan Guides and as far as possible we ensure that what we spend in Tibet is ploughed back into the Tibetan community.