0.42 Seconds in Tibet

As a little excursion from flinging myself off bridges I decided to go to the China/Tibet border. Just to have a look. I am very curious about borders, I find them odd and exciting at the same time.

The two countries are linked by a bridge. Half way across this bridge is the border, marked with a red line and two Chinese border guards under red ice cream vendor style umbrellas. Unfortunately and not surprisingly photography is banned on the bridge. As I approached the line in the tarmac I wondered if I could cross it. I stood adjacent to the Nepali side of the line, next to one guard and hesitated. The other guard crossed over and also stood next to me. I realised it was now or never. If I was to gain entry into Tibet I had to be strong.


At that point I threw caution into the wind and stepped the extra 6 inches over the line and into forbidden territory. The guard closest to me then gave a very firm and stern "OI!" and gesticulated that I should get back into Nepal sharpish. I did. He had a gun. And a furrowed brow. I leaped back across that border and into safety. So there we are, my Tibetan odyssey was at an end. One can forget Heinrich Harrier and his 7 Years in Tibet. I have 0.42 Seconds in Tibet.