Tibetan Foothold

I found this book fascinating, because I've spent time in Dharmashala teaching English (in 2010, 2012 and 2013 - see my Kindle books 'Between Monks and Monkeys' and 'The Yeti in the Library' about my experiences there.) To find a first-hand account of what it was like in the 1960s was very exciting. I attended the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Tibetan Children's Villages (TCV)in 2010, and it was hard to imagine what this brilliantly run organisation was like when it first started. Now I know, thanks to Dervla's vivid day-to-day account. I must say, I have huge admiration for her and the other Westerners who worked at TCV in the early days. These days living and teaching in Dharamshala is definitely not a hardship posting, but then it was a very tough challenge. It was also fascinating to read about the road workers' camps in the Kullu Valley. I travelled to Manali last year and had no idea that the Tibetans had worked on the winding road beside the Beas River. I would recommend this book to anyone who has been to Dhamrashala, or is thinking of going there. It will really broaden your understanding of what the Tibetans have managed to achieve from desperate beginnings - with help from intrepid and generous helpers like Dervla Murphy.

If you love to travel, and you love to imagine, you're gonna love Dervla Murphy. She paints a picture of worlds rarely visited, dives into subjects often too delicate for even diplomats and politicians to touch, and does it with grace, humor, and real charm.And all the while, she follows a path so unusual for a woman (and in some of her later books, a mother), that you can't help but want to read all she has to write.In particular, Tibetan Foothold was wonderful for how she handled the thorny subject of Tibetan autonomy vs independence, how she relayed the region's incredibly complicated history, and how she made her characters come alive. Her honesty and clever turn of phrase left me crying - and laughing out loud.

The circumstances were dire & yet Dervla was able to introduce a calm acceptance of her challenges to make the reader aware of the children's plight without cringing every time a new disease outbreak arose. The country scenery was superb and the feelings expressed gave the reader a vivid idea of the grandeur of the Himalayas . Most enjoyable biography of an intrepid explorer .

Sincerely and warmly written, the Tibetan Foothold describes Murphy's time spent volunteering with Tibetan refugee children in India. Murphy writes straight from the heart and I laughed out loud on many occasions at her hilarious but accurate descriptions of her 'Tiblets'. Highly recommended!

Dervla Murphy is one of the best travel writers in the world. She is entirely fearless in the face of physical adversity and makes a point of living among the people who's country she is travelling through. In this book she is taking a weather enforced break after travelling overland to India from Ireland on a bike. While she waits for the weather to cool enough to continue, she volunteers to work with the Tibetans who have fled to India after the Chinese takeover of their homeland. The portrait that she paints of these charming people living in extreme stress and poverty is very moving, without ever becoming overly sentimental.

Dervla writes a great story , you feel you are right there with her sharing the high and lows ! all her books are so interesting and enjoyable.

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY FRIEND WHO HAS READ OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR. SHE LIKES THE WAY THE READER IS DRAWN IN TO THE JOURNEY

Dervla Murphy rarely disappoints and Tibetan Foothold is fascinating, knowledgeable as well as entertaining. Would highly recommend.

Bought it for someone else, who is enjoying it