For eight long years Yeshi never had any contact with family members inside Tibet. They didn’t have a telephone, there was no internet, and any letters from India, his adopted homeland, were intercepted before they reached home.
Fast forward almost thirty years, and communication is now instant. Not everyone in Tibet has a smartphone, but our nieces and nephews are as plugged in as the rest of us. Someone will always pick up our video calls.
Over the last week, while we’ve been catering at the Hay Festival, Yeshi’s father, sister and other members of the family have been on pilgrimage in Mount Kailash (above), Tibet’s most sacred mountain. It’s a 52km route, circumambulated over three days.
Tradition holds that making the pilgrimage during a Horse Year carries the merit of thirteen circumambulations in any other year. Completing the route – as they did – during Saga Dawa, Tibet’s holiest month, brings more benefit still.
Sweltering in the heat of the Hay Festival this last week, we’ve taken particular pleasure in receiving videos and stills from Mount Kailash. Against a backdrop of glaciers and holy waters, family members were wrapped up against the cold as they jostled alongside thousands of other travellers.
Saga Dawa is not just a religious festival. It’s also a celebration of Tibetan culture and values in everyday life. You don’t have to go on a pilgrimage to be especially mindful and compassionate during this time.
We’re a long way from Tibet right now, and in many ways we’ve never felt further away than we have these last few days. But we’ve been grateful – and mindful – for the opportunity to extend generosity and warmth wherever we could this week.
That’s the brilliant thing about hospitality: in every interaction there’s the chance to go over and above. The Hay Festival, spanning eleven long days, brings us thousands of customers. Every time, there’s the opportunity to surprise someone with a service that goes beyond what they expect.
One of the high points this year was the return visit of a gentleman we first served a couple of years back. Recovering from mouth cancer, he was finding chewing and swallowing something of a challenge. He remembered our patience and kindness, he said, as we had taken the time to recommend the dishes that might work for him.
And then there’s the regulars. Richard works for a company that provides cash processing services at festivals and events. We see him every year at Hay, Glastonbury and Green Man. He comes to us every day for a mixed curry and two momos – or what he calls his “usual”.
What a joy and privilege it is to treat people right. Often our work feels like pilgrimage in action, and never more so than during this last holy week.
Meanwhile, back in Oxford, we have excellent news. The restaurant is reopening on Friday just in time for the Magdalen Road Summer Festival on Saturday. The street will be closed to cars from 9am-4pm with an open-air yoga class, local stalls and much more. Come and see us for life-changing iced chai and all the usual goodies.
Our full opening hours this week are as follows:
Fri: 5-9.30pm (dinner only)
Saturday: 11-3/ 5-9.30pm (Magdalen Road Summer Festival)
Sunday: 12-3 / 5-9pm
And more good news! Taste Tibet will be OPEN throughout June and July this year. Please note that we’ll be running just Friday-Sunday during this time. Hay completely cleaned us out of momos and there’s some tens of thousands to be made for upcoming festivals and college balls in the months to come, so this is not slacking but simply needs must.
This week’s menu is up on the website – check it. Come for dine in or take away or a restock of your freezer. Just give us a minute to stock up on sepen chill oil – we’re currently down to a mere few jars.
If you haven’t already, sign up to our weekly newsletter so that you can keep track of our movements during the nomadic summer months. Every Postcard From Tibet also contains a discount or freebie.
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Julie and Yeshi
Opening hours this week:
Weds – Fri: 5-9.30pm
Saturday: 12-3pm 🥢 5-9.30pm
Sunday: 12-3pm 🥢 5-9pm
☏ 01865 499318
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