IN THE ARMS OF NATURE
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY / NELSON NG
PRODUCED BY LOST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORDEN CAMP
Sometimes we forget the quiet power of Nature—how it soothes, heals and naturally reawakens. Far from the city, nestled in open, silent land, Norden Camp was born to share the subtle rhythms of Tibetan nomadic life. It is a gentle retreat that offers Nature’s embrace without its harsher demands. Here, as the body finds ease between earth and sky, the soul awakens—inviting a deeper connection to the world and to the calm within.
BREATHE
When you first arrive at Norden Camp, you notice that the air is different. You come from the city and you realize the oxygen is thinner here—over 3,000 meters above sea level in Gannan, Gansu. Your head begins to swell and ache from the lack of oxygen. You gasp for air and realize you have to breathe differently. It is a strange sensation because you never think about breathing in the city. You take it for granted.
But there is plenty of fresh air here. You are welcomed by the vast open landscapes around Norden, surrounded by nothing but rolling hills and green pastures. The air carries a sweet, clean scent—nothing like the stale, trapped atmosphere of the city. Here, the wind moves freely, alive and unconfined. You make a conscious effort to take deeper breaths, and feel your lungs expand fully for the first time in a very long while. Your body is learning how to breathe again.
As you breathe in the open landscape, you can’t help but marvel at all this space. Infinite. Endless. Boundless. Unlike the city, you don’t have to fight for room. It is abundant here and enough for everyone. Your breathing eases and deepens with each inhale. Your heart rate slows and you begin to relax. There is enough oxygen in the air—you just need to draw it in slowly. In fact, you realize everything here must be taken slowly. There is no need to rush.
You have all the time you need.
FEEL
Slowly, you begin to discover a softness woven into the Norden experience. It gently peels away your anxieties, one layer at a time. Inside the cabins at Norden Camp, you’re surrounded by the warmth of handcrafted textiles—carpets, blankets, throws, pillows and soft furnishings that soften every surface. Every piece of fabric is handmade locally by skilled hands from Norlha, Norden’s sister company. As you settle near the fireplace, your skin brushes against the woven threads—each one carrying stories of distant valleys and patient artisans. Their warmth and intimacy make you feel quietly at home.
Outside, the hills are wrapped in velvety grass, their gentle slopes inviting you to surrender to ease. From the nomads, you learn the art of lying back on the land. Your body feels weightless and carefree on the grass. A soft breeze disarms you and quietly dissolves your worries.
But the softness isn’t just physical. You feel it in your interactions with the nomads. It is a gentleness that is observed even in the smallest gestures, as if protecting something delicate. They never push, never impose. A quiet restraint, not of limitation, but of care. Like the making of felt, the pressure is always just right—never too heavy, never too light. Just enough to keep things dense but loose. Free, yet whole.
As you immerse yourself in the tactile world of Norden, your senses are stirred. You recall the quiet power of connecting with the world through touch. You press your hand into the yak fur—rough, warm, alive. The sensations felt on your skin are not just comfort—they are emotions. You remember what it means to be sheltered, wrapped in warmth and care. But you struggle to shed the armour you’ve built for yourself, hardened by the chaos of city life. No, not everything is out to harm us, you remind yourself. We do not live in an unkind world.
For the first time in ages, you let yourself return—to the sanctuary of safety.
CONNECT
Each day at Norden, you’re reminded of how generously Nature provides. Everywhere you look, yaks and sheep graze in the distance, calm and unbothered. When they’re out of sight, their presence lingers—in the butter and yoghurt, in the wool and woven fur. Even the grass and wildflowers thrive on their droppings. You begin to see how everything here is connected—interwoven, reciprocal, alive. And you start to wonder where you belong in the scheme of things. In the city, you’re connected to everything—yet nothing feels alive.
You learn about the life of the nomads. The way they live in harmony with the animals and the land. It’s not an easy life. But they are proud of their animals. Each day, they offer prayers to the local deities, including the mountain gods who watch over every valley and peak. Their livelihood depends on the temperament of nature. Every drop of rain nourishes the grass that feeds the livestock, which in turn provides for the people. Nature takes care of everything they need.
At night, you’re invited to dinner at a nomad’s home. You savour a simple yet generous meal of yak meat, momos, and fresh salad. As you eat, you begin to wonder where each ingredient came from—the hands that prepared it, the land that made it possible. In the city, food arrives from ‘somewhere out there’, and you rarely think to ask where. But here, everything comes from here. From the soil, from the animals, from the people. Every bite carries the imprint of the environment. A quiet wave of gratitude washes over you as you remember a forgotten truth: we’ve always been indebted to the Earth. Nothing is owed. Everything is a gift.
As the host passes you another bowl of meat, you smile and simply say, “Thank you.”
LISTEN
Every morning, you wake to the sound of birdsong. The landscape at Norden Camp is so gently preserved that even the animals feel at home. Birds nest in the cabins; sometimes, yaks wander quietly past your door. The trees pulse with life and vigour, and from your room, you can hear the steady murmur of the river. Here, nature is not just present—it is alive, unfiltered, and fully in motion.
Such an environment awakens your impulses. At sunrise, the first rays of light gently nudge you from slumber. At Norden, nature isn’t a backdrop but the main program—you’re meant to be affected by it. When you open your eyes, you are instantly inspired by the dreamlike view of the mountain landscape from your bed. You are comforted by the blue morning light, and you drift into a waking reverie. The edges of your vision blur, and you begin to traverse between the mind and the universe. Your thoughts are already racing—wandering, weightless, free. Your mind is overflowing with ideas that could never surface when you’re in the city.
When darkness falls, you sit beneath a sky scattered with stars. The staff at Norden light a bonfire, its warmth drawing everyone into a quiet circle. You watch the flames crackle and rise, something primal stirring deep within you. It doesn’t just warm your skin—it listens in a way the city never does. One of the staff begins to sing in Tibetan—a soft, winding folk melody—and the fire seems to sway with his voice. In the vast darkness, you feel the heat of passion flare inside you. You gaze into the fire, and it gazes back. Your mind softens and dissolves into the flames. Slowly, the fire becomes you.
When you return to your room, there is a comforting silence. But the silence here isn’t empty—it’s filled with presence. From your bed, you gaze out at the night sky and feel the Earth exhale. You’re far away and safe from the city now, in a place where the noise cannot find you. In this stillness, something inside you begins to settle. You’ve been given a rare gift: solitude, free from the endless pull of everything that isn’t you. You bask in the quiet moonlight, listening to the wind speak in hushed tones. And in the silence, you begin to hear a voice long forgotten—the one buried deep within you.
Welcome back.
O Great Mother of the Earth,
Still and vast, guardian of the sky—
Take us into your sheltering arms.
Let your lands soothe our souls.
Let your mountains lift our minds.
May your rivers carry our days,
And your winds teach us stillness.
May calm root in our hearts,
And our spirits return to the vastness.
NORDEN CAMP is a private retreat set in the vast, untouched landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau, offering space for quiet reflection and a deep connection with nature. Located on winter pasture on the Sangke Grassland at 3,200 meters in altitude, the camp blends the lush landscapes with contemporary interiors and carefully curated local food, ambiance and experiences. With open skies, rivers, and trees, it provides privacy and profound restoration for both body and mind.
https://www.nordencamp.com/
Architect: Blake Civiello
Interior designer: Ileana Liaskoviti
Founder: Yidam Kyap and Dechen Yeshi
IN THE ARMS OF NATURE was produced by LOST in partnership with NORDEN CAMP. The print version of the article can be found in LOST ISSUE ELEVEN. Read the Chinese version online here.