Around the world with bob'sbarnablog:

All roads lead to Mount Kailash, a seriously holy place for at least four religions and close to the Tibetan border with India. Apparently (I have assigned the word "apparently" to the F6 button), the ancient Aryans believed Kailash (or Meru as they called it) was home to Indra, Vedic god of weather, war and Lord of heaven, and a place where dead souls awaited rebirth. Shiva was also said to dwell at the top of the mountain, the world's supporting pillar from which four rivers flow and divide the earth into four regions.

Kailash was where Tibetan yogi Milarepa (of nettle-eating fame) F6 fought a battle of sorcery against local Bon-religion hero Naro-Bonchung. Since neither was able to get the upper hand they eventually agreed that whoever should reach the top of Kailash first would be proclaimed the victor. While Naro-Bonchung raced upwards on a magic drum, Milarepa's followers were dismayed to see their champion sitting still and meditating. However, just as Naro-Bonchung was about to reach the summit, Milarepa jumped onto the sun's rays, travelled at the speed of light and got there first.

Mount Kailash is F6 visited by pilgrims who make their way around the mountain in the belief it will bring them good fortune. Hindus and Buddhists follow a clockwise route while Jainists and B�n-po followers go anticlockwise. Some pilgrims cover the entire 52-kilometres performing body-length prostrations, a task that takes at least four days and includes lying on snow and ice and in mountain torrents.

Travel tips:
Useful Tibetan expressions:

Ngay n�n-tr� chay y�-pa ha-ko-ma-song = I didn't realise I was doing anything wrong

Ngah tag tay mi-g� = I don't want a blood transfusion (may be complemented with an unidiomatic "tu-jay shay-ta-chay" or "thank you very much")