Tibet: Getting to Know A Place More Secluded Than North Korea

What many people don't know is that North Korea is not the only country in the world that is secluded from globalization. With its unique culture, one-of-a-kind language, and an exclusive religious-political system, Tibet can be considered as a place as restricted as the Kermit Kingdom.

Originally a country of its own, Tibet was conquered by China in the late 1940s and has been turned into the Tibet Autonomous Region. A place as private as can ever be, it has its own government and is led by a political and spiritual leader known as the Dalai Lama.

For decades they have been fighting for their independence from China to the point that the Dalai Lamas through history has been continuously reaffirming its people about their statehood and independence.

They have claimed their independence by having their own currency, passports and national flag separate from the People's Republic of China. The Dalai Lama has also been in many signed international treaties and diplomatic relations with various powerful countries in the world. However, travel to Tibet is not an easy deal.

A report from China Highlights has indicated that no individual will be awarded a permit to enter inside Tibet and would only be allowed in when traveling in groups. Traveling inside this region is very restricted. Train stations, attractions, and even hotels require the checking of the Tibet Entry Permit.

While in this religious country, travelers are also guided by government licensed tour guides. There are also guidelines when it comes to which places in the country are allowed to be documented. Furthermore, the entire country is closed to foreign travel during the months of February and March as this is a very spiritual time for the country, when they celebrate the Tibetan New Year.

Believe it or not, it is much harder to get a visa to enter Tibet than North Korea, especially for journalists. According to a report from CNN, journalists from the company has only been allowed to film inside Tibet in 2006 and a decade later in 2016. In fact, CNN has been to North Korea a ten-fold more than they have been to Tibet.