 Tashi was born in Khumbu, Nepal and spent his some childhood in Darjeeling, the famed hill station and tea growing area in India.He attended St Paul's School, Darjeeling – a private boarding school in the strict British tradition.He made quite a name for himself in the outdoor education field, excelling at distance and sprint running, soccer, cricket, gymnastics, karate, hockey and horse-riding as well as in more artistic pursuits such as oil painting and batik.