Jul 11, 2013 - Mt. Everest journey

Since the last blog so much has happened. We have met some great people along our journey but the five people beside us two in our Tibet tour have become very special to us. There is something to be said about sharing significant events, good and bad, that makes fast friends. We now have five good friends... Dugald from Belfast, Maureen from Glascow, Allesandro from Milan, Michael and Hanna from Dever, Co. Four of us are grandparents and the other three younger than thirty. So my story this blog includes our five new friends. Our guide Chou...

Jul 8, 2013 - Shigatze, Tibet to EBC

Two more temples and Monasteries today and then we set off across the Himalayas. To tell you the truth we are all about templed out so when we arrived at our destination this evening and the tour guides pulled into another monastery at 7:30pm after all of us getting up at the crack of dawn to begin today's ride we all almost died. Well, the monastery was closing so we just had to go on to our hotel in Shigatze. The four of us in our land cruiser cheered and clapped with the news as did the other vehicles. We will however go to the monastery...

Jul 7, 2013 - Lhasa to Everest Base Camp

Up early to start the journey to the Everest Base Camp (EBC). Tonight we stay in a small village and tomorrow afternoon arrive at EBC. Our guide keeps telling us to be prepared as it is very primitive up there. Dick and I are much better prepared then the rest of the group. We are the only ones with food for example. Most of the members of the group never got altitude sickness meds. Not smart as one couple has already had to leave because the woman was very ill at the Lhasa altitude level. Three people we know who are going to go trekking...

Jul 7, 2013 - More holy places

The blending of new and old cultures characterizes the lovely city of Lhasa. There are many people wearing traditional garments of their districts and many younger people with punk hair dos and outfits that the fashion police would have a heyday critiquing. I really did have a chuckle today when I noted one young woman in 6 inch high white shoes that wrapped her ankles, a black mini skirt and orange flowered shirt.....the kicker was the black leather tights she wore under her skirt......Can you imagine what Joan Rivers would have said?...

Jul 6, 2013 - Buddhist Monasteries

Ok, so we arrived in a high altitude environment late yesterday afternoon and today they had our group of six climbing, climbing and climbing higher and higher up to the top of two fifteen century monasteries. At least 1000 steps were climbed today. Our hearts were racing and our breathing somewhat labored. Dick and I are the oldest by a few years but those three twenty something's in the group were panting right along side us complaining of racing hearts. Dick and I didn't feel too bad after knowing that bit of info. We kept right up and...

Jul 5, 2013 - Beijing, China to Lhasa, Tibet

After two days in Beijing we boarded the Sky Train for Lhasa, Tibet. The suspension on the train was great so it was a smooth ride and the beds were quite comfy this time. The attendants were very nice and helpful but did not speak English and of course we do not speak Chinese. Nonetheless we were able to make our needs known. The only negative about the train was the toilets...one western, one Asian...both utterly beyond disgusting. Apparently toilet hygiene is not important nor is keeping it clean. I mean to tell you that we were so very...

Oct 10, 2011 - In Lhasa at last.

So, yes, we are in Lhasa. I am finding breathing a little difficult, so will definitely have to take it easy for a bit. Our tour guide squashed our ideas of having a shower as soon as we hit the hotel. We have to wait until tomorrow, but no-one is quite clear as to the reason for this!! The drive into the city centre took us about 15 minutes, and we all looked and felt rather shell-shocked. We did manage to get checked in with no real problems, and into our rooms. It is very cold in our room, but we found extra quilts and pillows stowed in...

Aug 28, 2011 - Lhasa, Tibet - ** Tibet Blog **

Fortunately after the exertion of Emei Shan next up was a 44 hour train journey to Lhasa (capital of Tibet) from Chengdu – very little to do but sit and watch the views go by. Billed as the world’s highest train journey, it climbed up to the Tibetan plateau reaching nearly 5,000m at times. Given the quick gains in altitude we had to sign a health disclaimer when we boarded. Amongst other conditions this warned against “highly dangerous pregnant women” travelling. The train journey itself was stunning. It was hard to believe our eyes as...

May 20, 2011 - Lhasa, Tibet

My first R&R turned out to be just as incredible as I had hoped it would be. It started out bumpy...very bumpy. Turns out getting a Chinese visa and Tibet Travel Permit in one day isn't all that easy when there is a general strike happening in Kathmandu. After running back and forth from Thamel (Kathmandu's tourist and hotel district), to the Chinese Embassy, to travel agencies, I finally got my visa 45 minutes before my flight to Tibet the following morning. After convincing myself that I just spent $200 on a visa I’ll never use because...

Oct 27, 2010 - Lhasa

Auf der Fahrt nach Lhasa vorbei an tuerkisblauen Seen, unsrem letzten 5000er Pass an einem maechtigem Gletscher, hinab auf knapp ueber 3600m nach Lhasa. Dann der Schock. Alle paar Meter Militaer. Viele Checkpoints, eine moderne Industriestadt, Neu-Lhasa, die Tibeter in Alt-Lhasa. An allen Altstadtzugaengen vom Militaer kontrolliert, in den Strassen von schwerbewaffneten Soldaten patrouillierend im Alltag gestoert, auf den Daechern ueberall Scharfschuetzen, ganz schoen paranoid, die chinesische Besatzungsmacht. Des Abends leere Strassen, und...

Oct 26, 2010 - Gyantse

Fahrt in die (noch) urspruenglichste tibetischste Stadt unsrer Reise – Gyantse. Farbenfrohe Shops, gutes Essen, Hotel mit dichten Fenstern, funktionierender Klospuelung und Strom, unsrer ersten (moeglichen!) Dusche, warmen Fruehstueck und genuegend Sitzplaetzen fuer uns , alles eine erfreuliche Neuigkeit am 4. Reisetag. Gyantse beeindruckt mit seinem Kloster und bisher ungesehenen holzgeschnitzten Buddhafiguren, andaechtigen Klosterhallen, den Moenchsgesaengen des Gelbhaubenordens, des auf ueber 4100m hoch gelegenen Forts in grandioser...

Oct 24, 2010 - Nyalam - Mt. Everest - Lhatze

Ausgeschlafen. Die Strasse wurde nicht bis 8h geraeumt, wie urspruenglich versprochen, sondern war erst um 12h freigegeben, nachdem auch alle Trucker gemuetlich (an der Passstrasse) gefruehstueckt hatten bzw. ausgiebig ihre Morgentoilette erledigt hatten. Um 12h gings also endlich weiter, mind. 20min. und ca. 300 Hoehenmeter lang. Doch dann stieg der hydraulische Bremsbeluefter unsres Busses aus, keine gute Idee, wenn man bedenkt dass wir noch einen 4000er und zwei 5000er Paesse sowie einen Abstieg auf 4000m zu bewaeltigen hatten. Nach...