Tabo

“I hate coffee! But I’m the barista boy, man!”

“In late 2006 I escaped from Tibet. Of course, the journey wasn’t easy at all. Many people have died on this journey. I’m lucky to even be doing this interview. Since we chose to escape in the cold months, because there's less border control, it wasn't long before we ran out of clothes and food. We didn't even have shelter at night, we just had to huddle together to keep warm. The journey took almost a month!”

“I have made many friends here, but there are gloomy days when I miss my family. It's now been 10 years since I last saw them. Yet, I’m not alone. Many people here have the same story and we live shoulder to shoulder, helping each other out.”

“I didn't know anything about coffee back in Tibet. I had just seen pictures of people drinking coffee in fancy cafes. But somehow life is strange in that way, and you end up in places you never thought you would.”

Tabo, 29, Barista, McLeod Ganj, 29th April 2016.

Gan Kunchik Gyamtso

“My passion for teaching has been inspired by my students. Every year I have 40 to 50 of them. There's always a strong bond between me and each and every one of them because I put all my energy and effort into helping them shape their futures. It's easy to forget nowadays that there is something more important and precious than being just academic. In our religion, we believe that your teacher is your 'guru', meaning the one who can lead you on the right path and bring light to an often dark world. There's no doubt that we live in an era of great technological and scientific advancement and that this, in some instances, has brought positive change to the world. But at the same time we are still lacking in moral education, humanity, respect, manners. These are really the things we should be practising on a daily basis.”

Gan Kunchik Gyamtso, 42, Tibetan Literature Professor, College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, 26th April 2016.

Jampa Choezin

“The proudest achievement of my life so far was conquering my fear of presenting in public. I guess you call it stage fright. I remember the first time I had to do a presentation. My legs were shaking and looking back it's almost like someone else was giving the talk. After that, I knew the only way to build my confidence was to keep doing what scared me most. So I kept at it throughout my whole time at school. Now I can easily talk in front of a room full of people. Okay, I still get a little bit scared when I have to present in front of people such as His Holiness, the Dalai Lama!”

Jampa Choezin, 25, Tibetan Literature student, College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, 26th April 2016.

Freedom fighter

"I don't know what is the solution for the cause of Tibet!" 

"I am so frustrated, angry and can't hold anymore but I know that self immolations is not the answer anymore. It is just becoming numbers for the news channel and another reason for us to be sad."

"Of course, I don't mean that I do feel sorry and respect to those who have self immolated but still...."

"I am a father other two and I do teach them about Tibet as well as I know they learn from school about our traditions and culture but I keep on stressing about 'self immolation is not the answer' after this young teenage Dorjee self immolated him self just a week ago!"

"For his parents.. I feel sorry for the loss as being a father and I also feel sorry for the Tibetans for loosing such a brave heart at such a young age."

"Huuuu, it is such a sad incident and I don't from where the support will come beside our best effort. I don't think that the international community is not interested in our issue rather then the economic."

"Any way, I don't really know what I want to share with you but if this message is going to the world, please let them know that we are burning for help."

Dorjee. Dharamshala.

Photo and Interview by Kunsang Tenzing

Max

"I am known as MAX! I am the Nirvana man! I have this restaurant and the guest house named as Nirvana for several reasons. One, It is a budhhist symbol. Two, I love Nirvana band and finally it means peace, you know, Shanti shanti. Thus, my restaurant is shanti shanti all the time as well as it has a good vibe. Especially the food, you already know as you always choose to eat here."

"I am married and I have two kids. I am very satisfied with my life so far. I have what I want. I have a good and caring family and good business. What else do I need?"

"I can simply say that my life is in full power and fully happy!"

"My fashion? Do I copy them? No, not at all. It is my own style. I have my own style in everything I do. Like running the business, how I run my family and of course my clothes! So, no man, no copying! But you can copy my fashion, ha ha ha ha."

"Ahh about the turtles? Ha ha ha ha, I saved them while they were very little from near by mountain here while I was on a trek. Now they have grown! Me and my staffs here feed them thrice a day and look after them all the time. They are just cute!"

"Thank you for the interview and you really do have strange question as no body asked about my fashion or about the turtles. I like it. Anyway, good luck."

Interview and photo credit: Kunsang Tenzing

Lucky

"I am from South Korea and I am 25. Right now i am travelling in India for 50 days. It is my 11th day in India and right now I am in Khajuraho."

"25 years old is an age filled with energy and curiosity. I know that it is not a long one but what life taught me was to follow with breeze and do what you like. "

"While in Korea, I always earned money by doing part time jobs like cook, snowboard teacher, bartender, news paper delivery etc."

"I have always felt lucky being Korean as I have travelled to so many countries so far such as Japan, Philippines, China, Spain, Turkey etc. I have seen their life styles and traditions. I think Korea is the best so far. And of course, Korean girls are beautiful.”

“I choose India to do my first solo travel as I have met many people who went to India and they always had incredible stories. Thus, I also wanted to feel and experience these feelings. As I have travelled with other people to all these different countries, this time, I choose to do it alone. Moreover, soon the real life is going to hit me, marriages, professions and so on, thus, before it is too late, I wanted to travel and maybe India might be my last travel in time wise. 50 days is a lot of time from my life.”

“To all the people out there, especially to my Korean friends, India is a country filled with colours and experiences. So, please visit at least one time before it is too late. “

“And one last thing, it is my 11th day here in India and i have been cheated so many times but I learned to smile in between. Thank you India.”

Sung Min Hyong (Lucky)

Interview and photo credit: Kunsang Tenzing

Ragbikul

“My family is from Begal but I was born in this little hut, near Ganges. Right now I am 15 years old and I sell Dia, the candles. I don’t know since when I started selling candles (dia).”

“I get up around 5 am and go around all these streets filled with trashes and dunks to collect water bottles. I get around 30 rs/- for a bag big full of bottles. With that money, I usually eat street snacks. I hate getting up early but I want to eat that snack so I don’t have any choice.”

“Sometimes when I am lucky, I get opportunity to throw garbage of these guest houses here and that time, i get around 20s! I prefer that job rather then roaming around the street and collecting garbage.”

“Usually I eat whatever I get as I can’t afford to have delicious and fancy food. In the morning, I have Chapati (typical thin indian bread), black tea. Ahh, Once in a while, we have chicken! Like one time in a month. Wow, when I think of that, I am so happy. Yes, we don’t have a fix timing of which date we can eat that chicken and it keeps me excited whole month!”

“In the morning, I usually just play near ganges and at the same time, collect bottles for my snacks. My main job is to sell Dia, the candles. I make around 20 to 30 dias. Each one cost 10rs/- Sometimes, I can sell all and sometimes i can’t at all! That is sort of main income for my family. Along with me, my two younger sister who are 10 and 5, they also sell dia.”

“Yes, I remember Modi coming here but he didn’t buy my dia.”

“Of course there is no way that I can reach to him as there were so many people as well as lots of guard!”

“Burger? What is that? Chicken burger? “

Ragbikul, varanasi.

Interview and photo credit. Kunsang Tenzing