Zsoka Gelle is an independent researcher. Born in Hungary in 1967, she is fascinated with Tibet, Nepal, Japan and India since her childhood. She studied history and cultural management (BA) at BDTF College, Szombathely and did Tibetan Studies (BA and MA) at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. She spent several years in India and Tibet doing research on Tibetan storytellers (Mani Lamas) and leading tours. In 2011 she became a member of the Doctoral College for Cultural Transfer and Cross-Contacts on the Himalayan Borderlands at the University of Vienna, and since then she is writing about the history and tradition of Hyolmo in the Nepal Himalaya.