Now is the winter of your content

Fancy spending the winter on the world's highest plateau? This doesn't sound very inviting but anyone lucky enough to visit Tibet autonomous region now will find it relieved of its hordes of summer tourists and will fall in love with it.

A traveler's primary concern is heating but it is no big deal for the locals. During the day, the bright sun keeps them warm and happy. At night, they burn dried yak dung in stoves, possibly the most environmentally friendly heating system in the world.

Life in the capital, Lhasa, also fires up in winter. Farmers from across the plateau have finished harvesting and have plenty time to party, since preparations for next year's crops don't begin until the traditional Tibetan New Year, which this year falls on Feb 25.