A Lasting Friendship with Gustavo on 8 Days Tibet Trip

My acquaintance with Gustavo dates back to December 2009. I had just graduated from university, and Asia Odyssey Travel had arranged for me to scout out Tibet, familiarizing myself with the local tour routes. So, I joined our company's 8-day Tibet tour to Everest Base Camp, and it was on this tour that I met Gustavo.

The Friendship Forged with Gustavo in Tibet

Gustavo was from the United States but of Hispanic descent, residing in Miami. Due to a hearing impairment in one ear, he couldn't clearly hear the guide's explanations during our company's Tibet tour. So, I sat next to him and became his personal translator.

Whenever Gustavo couldn't hear, I would promptly explain the Tibetan culture to him. For example, in Lhasa, I told him how the walls of the Potala Palace were painted with milk and honey. On the Tibetan highways, we saw many pilgrims prostrating themselves, their entire bodies touching the ground in a deeply devout practice.

At Tashilhunpo Monastery, I explained the gilding process of the future Buddha statue and pointed out the oily patina on the temple floor worn smooth by monks' years of debating.

Being fellow enthusiasts of alcohol, we also discussed Tibetan barley wine. I recounted the guide's explanation of the three-stage filtration process in its brewing. He shared his unique winemaking secrets with me, while the children traveling with us jokingly complained, "Alcohol, alcohol, it's always alcohol."

When we reached Gyawu La Pass, our first glimpse of Mount Everest, tourists scattered to take photos. I took many pictures for Gustavo. We enjoyed a hot pot dinner at Everest Base Camp.

The next morning, I woke Gustavo up early to watch the sunrise. Standing at Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5200 meters, the desolate beauty before us felt almost surreal, with the pyramid-shaped peak of Everest directly to the north. We each held a cup of coffee, quietly admiring as the sunlight painted the summit gold.

Our 8-day journey together in Tibet cemented a brotherly friendship between us.

After returning to the US, he consistently wrote to me, inviting me to visit. He described Miami as a very beautiful place with blue skies, white clouds, and even nude beaches, haha. I had heard of Miami before, and the movie "Miami Vice" was very popular at the time, so I thought, why not go see it?

Visiting Gustavo in the United States

So, in 2014, I finally started applying for a US visa. However, due to insufficient funds, my first interview was unsuccessful, and I was rejected. Gustavo and I were both very disappointed. He suggested we try again next year and offered to write me an invitation letter if needed.

In 2015, I applied for a US visa again, and this time it went surprisingly smoothly. Perhaps my trip to Europe in 2014 gave my application a boost. So, the moment I received the visa, Gustavo and I were overjoyed.

For my first trip to the United States, I planned a 35-day stay. Since Miami was located near the East Coast, I decided to focus on exploring the East Coast this time. I first visited New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and other places, and then flew directly from New York to Miami. In Miami, I stayed for 20 days, living with Gustavo the entire time.

During the day, while he was at work, I would ride my bike around Miami Beach. When he got off work, he would cook his specialty, spaghetti Bolognese, for me. This period was truly unforgettable, as it was also my first time living abroad for so long, in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar culture. I am grateful for Gustavo's care during those many days, and it became a very beautiful memory in my life.

Since then, Gustavo has also visited Zhangjiajie to see Avatar Mountain, the filming location for the movie "Avatar." He first stayed in Chengdu for 10 days, where we dined at authentic Sichuan hot pot restaurants, but he fell in love with noodles. He could never get enough of Chengdu's Dan Dan noodles.

Through these years of continuous contact, we have become very close friends. Even now, we are planning when we can go to Tibet together again. Looking forward to it!