Tsewang Norbu and Reeta from the Tibet gift shop, provided us the properties for a Tibetan household of Khamba.

Originally from Amdo, he came here as a child and married a local Indian. Today he has a thriving buisness in the number one tourist destination of India, Manali.

One of the very few remaining master craftsmen, 'Pala' as he is known lives with his wife, children and grandchildren in a small shack near the Gompa in Manali. He still makes the authentic daily life utensils that are used in a Tibetan household.

Pala was in his 20s when he escaped from Tibet and later met his wife in India. Pala has his own small workshop in the front of the house. He tells me with a smile, that he makes the Tibetan household items, which he sells to the antique stores. They color it make it look older and then sell it to the unsuspecting tourists for 4 times the price.

Sonam was born and brought up in India and studied in Kalimpong. Her father when he escaped from Tibet, managed to bring with him a lot of Tibetan artifacts and later started collecting and selling Tibetan antiques. Sonam joined him soon after she finished her studies.

Sonam's shop has one of the rarest collection of the artifacts and thus undoubly the most expensive we encountered.

Sonam is married to a Ladakhi and has two children who live in Dharamshala.

The Tibetan Handicraft cooperative society was started by Pema Dorjee CTAS, many years ago and today has three workshops and stores. Almost all of our costumes are made by the staff of this tailoring workshop.