Tibet - Lhasa - Loving it - Oct 4, 2005

Had to leave Sims at 530am ruddy stupid time in the morning, got checked in at the airport then sat waiting to board, airport was lush, for just a Chinese Domestic airport. Boarded the the Air China Airbus at 7am and I was greeted by some beautiful Chinese air hostess's, probably the best Chinese girls I have seen so far. The plane was empty had a whole 3 seats next to a window to myself for the two hour flight to Lhasa.

Got off the plane and almost immediately I felt the altitude kicking in, I was exhausted and felt like crap. I collected my bag, just about, and jumped on the bus to Lhasa with Dongi and Ulf in tow.

We pitched up in Lhasa and at this point I was feeling like I was on my death bed, I couldnt even bring myself to walk the 800 metres to the Pentoc Hotel. So I grabbed one of the Rickshaw blokes harrassing me and said ",YOU, take me to the Pentoc, your getting 10 Yuan and thats it", the boy seemed happy with that, probably overpayed the bloke by about 5 Yuan, but I was a man in need.

I managed to just climb the two flights of stairs and then collapsed in the reception hall against the wall. Eventually Dongi walked passed and grabbed me bag and shoed me which room we were in. I dumped myself on the bed, where I stayed for the rest of the day. Managed to walk down the stairs and grabbed a lush Tuna sarnie before retreating back to my bed, and that was the sum of all my efforts for that day.

Wednesday 5th October

Slept real bad, and my hopes that I would sleep off this altitude thing were dashed as I had got worse, now my back, throat and head all ached real bad. I got up mind you and decided I had to get out and sample a bit of Lhasa, I walked down to Barkhor square, which is where the Jokhang sits, the most important temple for the Tibetans. I walked round a bit and did one circuit of the Kora round the Jokhang with all the Pilgrims, the buzz from them was amazing.

Bumped into Dongi and then we headed for the Potola Palace where the Tibetan Government should be sitting with the Dalai Lama inside. As I approached you could see a big open square in front of the Potola, In this square was a giant memorial that the Chinese had built on purpose directly in front of the power of Tibet, celebrating the "So called LIBERATION of Tibet" what a joke. They even have a a couple of Chinese army boys guarding it, the bastards, Hey. But other than that monstrosity in front of the palace, it was an awesome sight just sitting on top of this hill, all dolled up in gold.

Unfortunetly mass tourism has hit old Lhasa so these places are surrounded with hawker stalls, trying to flog plastic pray wheels and Yak models. Got back to the Pentoc and I was spent, just that little walk had killed me, so I slumped myself in the restuarant and ordered some veggie soup. Got a stroke of luck whilst waiting for my soup, some old yank lady saw the state I was in and offered me these so called wonder drugs she had left over for the altitude sickness. I immediately poped one and hit the sack for about 3 hours.

I woke from my slumber feeling marginally better, so went downstairs and sat outside the hotel just lapping up a bit of Lhasa atmos. Saw the usual beggers running about, but also saw this one begger send her little kid to beg off this Chinese dude, when thekid got some reward, the mother jumped off the floor and ran halfway down the street to beg off the same guy. She had obviously seen he was a giver and wanted to cah in fully, what a joke. Eventually I had a whole family of beggers round me, told them they werent getting anything out of me, and then they were content just to sit down next to me playing with my camera.

After sitting there for an hour or so chatting to the begger kids I went off to do some more Kora action round the Jokhang, almost did 3 rotations which is the proper pilgrimage, can feel myself becoming a lamist, ha. Had this Chinese kid walking round with practicing his english and explaing what the pilgrims was up to, he then wanted me to go back his hose and meet his family, but could nt handle that, so he gave me his number and told me to call him tomorrow, not sure about that.

That night ended up eating Tibetan Fajitas called Bobi, real nice.

Thursday 6th October

Tibet - Lhasa - Loving it

Oct 4, 2005

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