The year Ash graduated high school coincided with his brother's senior year in college, and his brother had already found a job back in their hometown. With a month until starting work, the two energetic social loafers hit it off and spent his brother's scholarship and part-time earnings to travel to Tibet, influenced by the then-popular gentle soul-cleansing literature about Tibet.
Originally, it should have been his brother going with his girlfriend, but she was job-hunting and wasn't in good health, daring not to go to high-altitude places, thus giving Ash this opportunity. The scenery was indeed beautiful along the way, but what impressed Ash the most was Dark Night Park beside the Ali Observatory.
