PS snow is often called kha ba and Tibet is called kha ba can (often translated as "land of snows")

Thanks for the details, Ryan. The strict Buddhist version of bramacharya is I think certainly interesting in regards to sexual conduct, in case you're ever inspired to elaborate.
Whether or not Tantric Buddhism arose separately from or before Hindu Tantrism (as for example w/ Sakyamuni's legendary teaching to a King Indrabodhi), the fact seems to remain that it involved transmuting previously forbidden (depending on for whom) or at least generally accepted as mundane if not defiling acts of sex, meat eating and wine drinking into spiritual practice. From my admittedly narrow perspective, it seems that when the teaching was in times and places where meat eating was more normal, then the use of more taboo meats such as elephant, etc., ... became part of the ceremony. I'd venture that was partly in order to help people step beyond their ordinary limited perspectives. This I'm guessing is one of many reasons some acts are kept secret. Of course the herd of society would frown on them and possibly take harmful action if it were allowed to judge them from it's prejudiced perspective, but keeping them secret also it would seem serves the function of keeping them more powerful in terms of not being vulgarized by frequest public usage. Exceptions are of course particularly skillful and wise teachers like Guru Rimpoche or even Drugpa Kunley who could convert (the deserving viewers) by their displays of conversion (of taboo deeds).

The brahmacarya deals mainly with the term "lust" but can also be described as "objectification". In that sense if you fantasize about another while masturbating, you then "objectify" them in your delusions or fantasies without them having any choice in the matter. That could be considered a downfall.

one a year bathing?

I would think that is very good for water resource management.
I wonder what is there method of cleaning.. do they use oils on their hair like Indians?

I heard that Lama Yeshe was quite curious of the most intimate details of gays and lesbians when he visited san francisco; that he wanted to get a sense of the life of people.. so he would go to night clubs even (robe and sandals) and mingle.