Before I came here I thought that many people in the West had a tendency to romanticize Tibet as being somehow intrinsically more magical and mystical. After having been in Tibet for a few days now I see that there is something special about the landscape here. While visiting the grasslands at Tagong I saw that there is a somewhat calming and mediatative sense that comes out of the landscape. A vast expanse with the Himalayas in the backdrop, and a gold roofed monastary shining in the sun.

I'm going to be in China tomorrow, and I think my first question of values is how much do people value art in China, and how do people view its place in society? I think being in the audience of artistic events in China where you are able to see the patronage, and their level of involvement, will help to answers these questions.