Hong Kong, July 22

It’s illegal, and quite ill advised, to exhibit a picture of the exiled Dalai Lama anywhere in China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region (where many lamas in Lhasa have a taboo photograph hidden up their sleeves).

But The Idiot, much to his surprise, was recently allowed by courageous Yellow Hat lamas to take photographs of prominently displayed portraits of His Holiness in a number of monasteries and temples in central China.

A photograph of His Holiness in a Tibetan Buddhist temple in central China.

Monks permitted The Idiot to see photographs of the Dalai Lama in three different temples.

There are two photographs of the Dalai Lama in two of the three temples.

Possessing photos of the Dalai Lama is theoretically illegal in China.

Although the Dalai Lama has been in exile since 1959, it’s very clear that he’s still a constant presence for Tibetan Buddhists throughout the country and a constant pain for the Chinese government.

It’s time, face-losing and risky though it may be, for the somewhat progressive authorities in Beijing to consider inviting the Dalai Lama home. No strings, spiritual or otherwise, attached.

Postscript from Hong Kong, July 23: This article in the Economist (http://followtheidiot.com/The Economist) provides an insight into China’s current thinking concerning Tibet. Personally, I think that when the Dalai Lama, who has admitted that his non-violent approach to the situation in Tibet did not yield positive results, dies Tibet will explode. And China will ruthlessly squash any rebellion.

Text and Photos: Joel Stratte-McClure

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About Joel

Joel Stratte-McClure has been a global trekker since the 1970s. He lived in France for over 30 years, working as a journalist, before he turned his attention to a unique life-time-project of walking the shores of the Mediterranean. The first 4,401 kilometers are explored in his inspirational and entertaining first book "The Idiot and the Odyssey: Walking the Mediterranean." The next 4,401 kilometers are covered in the gods-filled sequel, "The Idiot and the Odyssey II: Myth, Madness and Magic on the Mediterranean,” published on Valentine's Day 2013. The last 4,401 kilometers will be discussed in the last book of the trilogy currently entitled "The Idiot and the Odyssey III: Alexander the Great Walks the Mediterranean."