The autumn of 1987 found me in Tibet. Arriving by plane from Chengdu, I acclimatised in Lhasa for a few weeks and then travelled to the Chumbi valley in search of signs of the Younghusband’s 1903-1904 expedition to Lhasa. The signs were there - battle scarred forts, defensive walls and the telegraph system that once linked Younghusband with London. Entering through the Chumbi valley, Younghusband fought a battle in the shadow of Mt Chomolari (below); besieged the fortress at Gyanste (above) and marched triumphantly into Lhasa (see above) on 3 August 1904. I arrived back in Lhasa just in time to witness the demonstrations against the Chinese that took place on 1 October 1987. As far I could establish, eight Tibetans were shot and killed during the demonstrations and a further twenty three were wounded.

Memories of Tibet:

Chomolari dawn - sunrise over the Chomolari range between Bhutan and Tibet.

A riot in Lhasa - For a month after the riot, I visited monasteries around Lhasa to try to get an understanding of the reasons behind the riots.  He then travelled towards the Nepali border, only to find the route blocked by snow - I returned to Lhasa nine days later.  Eventually, I joined forces with others and left again, this time in a four-wheel drive vehicle and drove to the border, crossing into Nepal over the Freedom Bridge.