Blogs from Lhasa, Tibet, China, Asia - page 2

Day 12. We went to the high mountain range over 4000m high again! Great veiwing platform with forested valley, mountain range, cloud and yet another range above, one peak rising to over 7000m! Then we came down a little to see the biggest Cyprus trees in Tibet, a sacred site. There were 3 main trees to look at. Then we took a suicidal busride, slipping and sliding around going up a steep dirt track washed aay in parts by the landslides caused by the rain the day before! Hold on to your seats!!! White water rapids all the way along, and then a short walk along to the sacred lake. Back to the town of NyingChi for sweet Yak tea. Scott then had a blind massage from a young man. Jerry thought the woman was going ... read more

Hi all, We're back to blogging since returning to Chengdu from Lhasa today! No internet access at all in Tibet! So a lot of catching up to do! Day 6 and 7 were basically in a train, 42 hours along the Tangu - La pass at 5,072m on the Qinghai - Tibet rail line! The railway is built on a permafrost and the Chinese continually ensure it stays that way! The train's about 15 carriages long, with compartments with 6 bunks to each, with a narrow corridor alongside to seat and eat and watch the Tibet countryside roll by. Day 6 became day 7 and still we climbed. Scott woke up with his head spinning and feeling nauseous. Altitude sickness seriously kicking in! Threw up all he ate so stayed in bed trying not to move ... read more

Drove 2.5hrs up to the highest fresh water lake in the world at 5000m.... read more

Day 7 spent vomiting (The Chengdu chunder) and head spinning for Scott. Jerry completely unaffected. Git! Miles and miles of flat plateau surrounded by mountains and an enormous lake. Day 8 we had entered Tibet. The guard told us to get up early to see the sunrise and an impressive mountain pass (Tangu La) we travel through. She was right. Up at 5.30 for sunrise and a weird mixture of desert, dunes and snowcapped mountains. Plenty of Yak, a few foxes, plenty of sheep on the way. Homesteads dotted about with earthen walls around small houses and farming plots, plus the occasional wigwam effect made from coloured material blowing in the wind. Checked by Tibetan police in the train and at Lhasa station (3,600m), but finally let us in. Lu and I mightily relieved to be ... read more

Lhasa Tour day 1 & 2 Could not sleep well at all with breathing problem, a hint of a headache and the noise from adjascent road. I had already been advised not to take a shower. Next morning a new guide picked me and walked to our base hotel (New Mandala Hotel). This definitely was a better hotel. The room was on the quite side and you got a breakfast in the morning. I was to await the tour mate who was sharing my room. As it turned out Mark Ayoub was a Californian 4th generation Syrian belonging to the Syrian Orthodox Church. At 20 years old he was 6' 8" tall basketball player and was easy to get on with. He had been to Bali etc. and is going to Kerala after Bhutan, Delhi, Mumbai ... read more