Shangri-la - now in the movies
Trip Start
Jan 30, 2007
1
148
617
Trip End
Dec 31, 2011
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Zhongdian,
Yunnan,
China
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Now there's a movie just out which features the pursuit of this mythical paradise.
Kimberly Ybarra has this to say about the movie and her experience of Shangrila:
The utopian society's existence has been a question of debate since it was first written about in James Hilton's novel The Lost Horizon from 1933.
What is Shangri-la? Does it even exist?
I don't think I'm giving too much away by revealing that the Shangri-la in the movie is a snow-capped mountain perch high up in the Himalayas with a small temple and nearby cave containing a natural pool of magical water.
It is quite different from the Shangri-la that I found on my trip less than a year ago. It was a magical place with peaceful farmers, anincredible Tibetan style palace/monastery and breathtaking scenery - But due to the extreme poverty and modern Chinese influences, it's hardly what I'd call "Heaven on Earth." As a matter of fact, it's original name is not even Shangri-la, it's actually Zhongdian. The local government in the town and Yunnan province declared that it was the place Hilton (who had never been to China) was talking about and changed their name to attract tourists.
Here are some pictures of the "real" Shangri-la in southern China (Despite my hesitance at posting myself in such a ridiculous pose on an albino yak, I have relented for your viewing pleasure): See Pics... www.GetDaGoss.com/blogs/?id=4946
http://www.pr-inside.com/mummy-3-and-adrian-twist-in-r755429.htm
