Animals and Surroundings
SPRING EQUINOX
Spring on the Plateau is a slow, evolving process that comes in fits and starts as the temperature gradually rises, bringing the grassland back to ...
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Animals and Surroundings
STONE CAIRNS
The dumbom, or stone cairn, is an endemic feature of the Tibetan Plateau landscape. They appear on common ground, on the banks of lakes, hilltops, ...
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Animals and Surroundings
T I B E T A N Y A K
The yak is the nomad’s most precious commodity, the source of all his ‘nor’ or wealth and the main bovine on the Tibetan Plateau. A distant cousin ...
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Animals and Surroundings
YEAR OF THE WATER RABBIT
The Lunar New Year is marked by the first day of the lunar year and is the most celebrated festival on the Tibetan Plateau. It is a symbol of new b...
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Animals and Surroundings
CHOEKHOR DAY
As autumn rolls in with yellowing and darkening skies, Ritoma’s pastoralists prepare for winter. Yak and sheep, which had been grazing at higher al...
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Animals and Surroundings
SOGWA - INTERVIEW WITH A NOMAD COUPLE
Each year, nomads move their herds to higher pastures for winter grazing in a period called Sogwa by the nomads of Ritoma. Moving towards new groun...
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Animals and Surroundings
3 YAK STORIES
Birth of a yak: Each year, Spring on the Plateau begins with the birth a new crop of yeko, or baby yaks. As children, it was an exciting time. Whi...
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Animals and Surroundings
NOMADS RETURNING HOME
The beginning of autumn is marked with grass turning a subtler shade of green that makes its way to yellow. Insects become larger and louder, blue...
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Animals and Surroundings
RITOMA'S FOUR SACRED PEAKS
Across the valley from the Norlha Atelier stands the highest peak in Ritoma, the Amney Tongra. Shaped in the hump of a crouching animal, it is the ...
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Animals and Surroundings
INTERVIEW WITH NORLHA SPINNERS
Until June 24, we are offering our customers 10% off all of our blankets. For every blanket purchase, you will automatically be entered to win a ha...
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Animals and Surroundings
PROVENANCE
With the celebration of the Lunar New Year, Norlha embraces the Year of the Ox, or the yak, as it is considered by many Tibetans. In our first jour...
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