Category Archives: Asia

The Meaning of Pure

This is a video of my story THE MEANING OF PURE. In 1995 I crosse the Himalayas and traveled to Benares. Swimming in the Ganges washed away your sins. My bath in the Mother of India was dedicated to my baby brother who had passed from AIDS earlier in the summer. Michael Charles Smith comes […]

NOTHING BETTER THAN PIZZA by Peter Nolan Smith

Back in 1995 I left the USA after the death of my younger brother. My plan was to visit the holiest places in Asia. I was a non-believer, but believed this pilgrimage would help Michael’s soul in eternity. By late August I had reached in old Yunnan city of Lijiang in Southern China. My hotel […]

Hell on Earth Tibet

After my youngest brother’s demise to AIDS in 1995 I traveled to several of Asia’s most holy sites to expiate his sins. Some of mine too. My main destination was Lhasa and I spent two months there drinking beer and walking around the Jokhrang, the Tibetan cathedral to Buddhism. The Chinese presence was noticeable with […]

Ganden Mud

In November of 1995 I went up to Ganden monastery with my friend Tim Challen. The Red Guard had destroyed the temple complex during the Cultural Revolution and the Tibetans were finally rebuilding the Gelukpa university at the top of Wangbur Mountain. I joined the volunteers in marching around the roof singing Louie Louie. It’s […]

Free Tibet Now And Then

Back in 1998 I went down to Washington with my father. The ostensible purpose was to visit my cousin Cindi in Annapolis. My secondary reason was to protest against the World Bank with the Free Tibet Society. My father was comfortable situated with my cousin, her daughters, and husband. He had his crossword puzzle and […]