Heroes of the Revolution Book

Separated by season, this book documents the lives and culture of the alpine people with generous pages of photos and their brief, poetic, informative descriptions. It's wonderful for obtaining a general impression and very basic understanding of life in the Himalayas.

"Namgyal, the wizard of Brassi. He wears a Dalai Lama pendant as a form of protection, surrounded by fake turquoise, coral, and zee stones, whose patterns are said to have been created thousands of years ago by lightning bugs in mud. Real zee stones can cost as much as three thousand dollars and are the most precious heirloom a family can possess. The stones protect against 'the dragon's roar''thunder and lightning'which may cause one to be swallowed up by the earth."