May 9, 2009 - Last of Lhasa

Yesterday we caught the bus 8km west of Lhasa to the Drepung (Rice Heap) Monastery which was once one of the world’s largest monasteries, home to over 10000 monks in its heyday. ... Hard to believe these people are all older than me when they act like school children! Today was a free day and whilst the others opted to drive 2 hours out to the Ganden Monastery for the day, I am luxuriating in no plans at all and wandering around Lhasa at my leisure. ... It could be my only monastery free day in awhile so I am revelling in it, despite the disgruntled reponses from some of my travelling companions when I said I wasn't going with them.Yesterday we caught the bus 8km west of Lhasa to the Drepung (Rice Heap) Monastery which was once one of the world’s largest monasteries, home to over 10000 monks in its heyday. ... Hard to believe these people are all older than me when they act like school children! Today was a free day and whilst the others opted to drive 2 hours out to the Ganden Monastery for the day, I am luxuriating in no plans at all and wandering around Lhasa at my leisure. ... It could be my only monastery free day in awhile so I am revelling in it, despite the disgruntled reponses from some of my travelling companions when I said I wasn't going with them....

May 7, 2009 - Monasteries and more monasteries

Yesterday involved a trip out to the Jokhang Temple in the heart of Lhasa. ... In the afternoon we all caught a bus out to the Sera Monastery about 5kn north of Lhasa to watching the monks debating in the monastery’s debating courtyard. ... Sera used to be home to about 5000 monks but many of the monks have gone ‘missing’ and now only several hundred remain.Yesterday involved a trip out to the Jokhang Temple in the heart of Lhasa. ... In the afternoon we all caught a bus out to the Sera Monastery about 5kn north of Lhasa to watching the monks debating in the monastery’s debating courtyard. ... Sera used to be home to about 5000 monks but many of the monks have gone ‘missing’ and now only several hundred remain....

May 6, 2009 - Lhasa

I realised why we had to get there so early before our 11am flight, it was very tedious! The other bonus of getting there early was that my tour leader Gelu, managed to get me a left hand window seat so that I had prime viewing position as we flew over Everest about half way through our 1 hour flight to Lhasa. ... From there we drove towards the main city of Lhasa, about an hour away and stopped off at the ‘Natural Buddha’ on the way which is anything but natural as you can see in the photo. ... The accommodation in Lhasa is pretty basic but at least it has a window, unlike my room in Kathmandu. ... And it has free laundry service! Lhasa is much more modern and clean than I had anticipated, and the roads even seem to have rules as well as maintained surfaces. ... The Potala is Lhasas cardinal landmark and is considered one of the greatest wonders of world architechture. ...

Apr 10, 2009 - Thank you

We just took it very easy on our last day in Tibet - did some shopping, and just tried to absorb the culture.We just took it very easy on our last day in Tibet - did some shopping, and just tried to absorb the culture....

Apr 9, 2009 - Back Country Tibet

We left Lhasa, at about 12000' elevation, and drove through mountain passes marked at 5190 meters (approx 17000'). ... On our way out of town,we passed some local people making a pilgrimage to Lhasa city. ... Oh, and on the way back to Lhasa 8 hours later, we passed the pilgrimage people again. ...

Apr 8, 2009 - Monasteries

The next day we visited 2 monasteries, the Norbulinka and Sera monastery. Both are located on the outskirts of Lhasa, so the monks have more privacy and "more quiet" as our guide says. ... She tried all day to explain the roots of Tibetan Buddhism but frankly its so complicated, that there is no way to grasp it in one day.The next day we visited 2 monasteries, the Norbulinka and Sera monastery. Both are located on the outskirts of Lhasa, so the monks have more privacy and "more quiet" as our guide says. ... She tried all day to explain the roots of Tibetan Buddhism but frankly its so complicated, that there is no way to grasp it in one day....

Apr 7, 2009 - Potala Palace

We could probably write lots in this journal about the situation here in Lhasa, but given the tight level of security we aren't sure if our communications are monitored and we don't want to cause trouble for either our hotel or our guide. ... The guides are 100% responsible for their client's actions, and one slip could be hours of grief or a loss of job, so it's not worth the risk.We could probably write lots in this journal about the situation here in Lhasa, but given the tight level of security we aren't sure if our communications are monitored and we don't want to cause trouble for either our hotel or our guide. ... The guides are 100% responsible for their client's actions, and one slip could be hours of grief or a loss of job, so it's not worth the risk....

Apr 6, 2009 - Safe arrival in Lhasa

Hello from the Roof of the World!!! Just a quick note to let everyone know that we have arrived safely in Lhasa, Tibet. ... There's maybe 50 or 60 foreigners total in Lhasa right now, so we're definately not seeing a lot of tourism yet. ... We are still very excited to be here, and so far love Lhasa. ...

Apr 5, 2009 - Hot Pot

On our last few days in China, we decided to go to a tea house.On our last few days in China, we decided to go to a tea house....

Apr 5, 2009 - Final impressions of China

Before we head off to Tibet, some final impressions of China: 1) We now know why the Chinese people do Tai Chi first thing in the morning.Before we head off to Tibet, some final impressions of China: 1) We now know why the Chinese people do Tai Chi first thing in the morning....

Nov 20, 2008 - Lhasa, Tibet

Hello again.Hello again....

Sep 9, 2008 - Tibet: Sep. 9 - 25

Arrival: Just arriving in Lhasa felt like an accomplishment: due to the unrest in Tibet earlier in the year, China closed the border entirely to foreigners until the summer. ... For my mom and me this meant that we did not actually have a visa to enter Tibet when we arrived in Nepal, just days before our scheduled flight to Lhasa. ... The next day we boarded the one-hour flight to Lhasa and gazed at 8000m mountains along the way. ... Lhasa sits at roughly 3700m or 12,000ft above sea level, which doesn’t seem so high until you arrive and begin to feel the effects of acute mountain sickness (AMS). ... But I quickly adjusted and by the end of my second day in Lhasa, felt ready to take on Mt. ...