World China Tibet Gyantse

Danny and Helen's Journey Home 2006

Gyantse - the journey begins 24 May 2006

The long (oh ha long) journey began from Lhasa to Everest with a mere 270km and 9 hours(the shortest leg of all) over dirt and rubble passes. Within 15 minutes of leaving Lhasa, Danny and Helen became adept at finding a suitable niche in the surrounding scrub which doubled as toilets. The first pass (Kampa la pass) was remarkable; from the top it was possible to see one of the worlds highest freshwater lakes which reflected with the glow of the surrounding mountians - this was followed by a second pass (Karo la pass)which was inhibited by many roadworks, exploding hill sides (as better roads were drilled out) and just hot dusty conditions. Upon reaching the top of the Karo La Pass the group stopped for a quick game of pool at 5220m - pretty surreal eh?!!

The jeep then bumped and grinded its way to Gyantse, the scene of a famous rebuffal of british attack during the 15th century. The stupa at the monestry is the worlds biggest and is pretty impressive. However it was at this stage that the guide and driver got into a furious row (for obvious reasons of censorship and cos the rough guide says so, the names of them both have not been included here - apparently this can result in prison or worse). The row went on for roughly an hour in the sweltering jeep until Danny put a stop to it by yelling loader than either of them to stop. It transpired that the reason the argument was in full flow related to one of the upcoming passes being closed. The driver was insisting on Helen and Danny paying extra money for an alternative route (which never actually materialised) and the guide was just being his totally miserable self. Danny made it clear that the pass was open (even though he had no idea) and that tweedle dum and tweedle dummer would get over the pass. This made for a harmonious drive to the hotel, where no room had been booked. It was at this stage the tibetans saw their first ever volcanoe - forever to be known as Kraka Danny. Clearly the heat, dust, arguing and incompetence had gotten to him and he erupted with the force of any previously seen magma, lava and dangerous gasses (which incidentally had been a problem since reaching altitude). Soon after a room was found at a near by place and calm restored until the next day.