In this journal narrative of a pilgrimage in Dolpo, an isolated Himalayan valley in northwest Nepal inhabited by people of Tibetan stock, Corneille Jest weaves together his own gentle observations of daily life and the lively tales told by his traveling companion.
In the early spring of 1961, Dr. Jest undertook a three-week circumambulating of the valley in the company of Tibetans, visiting temples, shrines and sacred mountains. His companion Karma, an elderly nomad from Western Tibet and a gifted storyteller, punctuated the journey with traditional tales and his own reflections.
Charmingly written, colorful and engaging, the narrative transports the reader to a world that stands outside of time. With grace and wit, it conveys the richness of the Tibetan world-view in ways not readily accessible to outsiders.

Tales ot the Turquoise: A Pilgrimage in Dolpo, Corneille Jest, Snow Lion Publications, Paperback, 225 pp, $12.95

Dr. Corneille Jest, former director of research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, specializes in social and economic change among populations living in harsh climates. He is particularly interested in the conservation of cultural heritage in the Himalayan and Central Asian regions.