Here’s another book I read and reviewed for a local newspaper, but I’ve modified it a bit for this site. Where and what is YOUR Shangri-La?

This travelogue records not just the author’s search for Shangri-La, but takes us through a journey of discovery as he travels from Beijing into the heart of Tibet and across parts of western China.

His search is not a lonely one. It was sparked by James Hilton’s classic ‘Lost Horizon’ written in 1933. Since then, generations have asked where Shangri-La really is. Some actively sought out the location, but is it just a place?

How and where Shangri-La is found is entirely up to the individual. Brahm’s travels into and out of Western China brought him face to face with many prominent figures – famous pop stars, living Buddhas, Dalai Lamas, artistes and other visionary folk.

Among the icons he interviewed were pop singers Ai Jing, Dadawa and Kaiser Kuo; famous song-writer and composer, San Bao; living Buddha His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rimpoche; fashion diva, famous designer, brand, label – Flora Cheong-lin; China’s legendary dance performer, Yang Liping.

Through his conversations with these prominent figures as well as humble Tibetan folk, he slowly unveils the different definitions and understandings of what and where exactly Shangri-La is to them. The definition of Shangri-La really depends on the individual. Some people find it, some people never do. Brahm’s experience in his search is as common as any person’s which, in the end, makes his search a universal one.

It is also through his meetings and discussions with the local people that Brahm showcases the simple beauty, cultural richness and wealth of the different Tibetan peoples. I felt as if I was there looking at the people, listening to them and being awed by the great expanse of the natural environment. Despite poverty and hardship, the Tibetans still manage a warm smile and extend whatever they could offer to Brahm.

You could say that his experiences with the Tibetans are surprising, mystical and inspiring at the same time. The Rimpoche and nomads mysteriously seek him out when he consciously stops searching for them. The Dalai Lama could sense Brahm’s presence and answers his question even before he utters it.

‘Searching for Shangri-La’ is also an exploration of Buddhism and of the history of Tibet. Brahm’s dialogues with the monks reveal profound snatches of discussions on the religion, which is better known as simply a philosophy of life. The book brings to attention issues such as materialism, loss of culture and environmental protection.

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Brahm’s style of writing evolves with his change of mindset the nearer he approaches ‘his’ Shangri-La. His travelogue is literally written as and how we hear his mind speak. The book begins amusingly in a style reflective of a sarcastic, somewhat agitated businessman.

As Brahm progresses in his journey, discovering many truths about life, people and Shangri-La, I can see his sense of observation sharpen and thoughts deepen. It seems to me that even the edge and sarcasm have dissipated from the voice in his writing.

Brahm’s travelogue is printed on thick matt paper with stark and beautiful photographs of the scenery and people he met. This made it so much easier for me to comprehend what he tries to share. It is an enjoyment just studying the pictures and relating them to the text. Poems are interspersed between chapters highlighting thoughts to ponder on.
What and where then is Shangri-La? It really depends on the reader’s interpretation. To me, it is both a place and a state of mind.
The travelogue had since initiated a documentary series, dedicated to preserving the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau or regions, its ethnic minorities and culture, which inspired the idea of Shangri-La in the first place.

Other travelogues of a series written by Laurence J. Brahm are Conversations with Sacred Mountains, Shambala and New Age Sutra. A lawyer and political economist by profession, Brahm has written many books on finance, business, China and Asia. Apart from publishing, Brahm is viewed by many as a barometer of China’s economic and political environment.