Blogs from Lhasa, Tibet, China, Asia - page 6

I woke up at 4:45 am to get dressed and brushed and washed. Everything was already packed. I ascended to the third floor to share breakfast pastries with Clare and Audrey. Maria was on their couch drunk. She did not sign up for the Tibet trip, so she had gone out drinking the night before and was still awake. She told us that Qiang had been at Panam (a French themed bar) the night before. Qiang is the guy from English corner who kept texting me. He doesn't anymore. The plane took off more than an hour late due to air traffic, so while we were sitting in the plane that wasn't moving they served us breakfast. Glutinous rice with pickled vegetables. I read Journey to the West for most of the flight. During the flight, ... read more

It’s just revealed that train ticket purchase in China isn’t as convenient as imagined. One night last year after supper, I browsed some web pages offering Tibet trip service while waiting for my son to come back from work. Actually I was totally a layman on Tibet trip, but some splendid pictures attracted my attention especially those about the spectacular scenery along Qing-Tibet railway. So one idea came up immediately that I’d like to travel to Tibet from Washington with my son next month when we both had a half month holiday once in a blue moon. I was informed that the construction of Qing-Tibet railway was ever suspended some years ago due to technology deficiency. However, it was really exciting that this project had been finished and tourists all over the world had the chance ... read more

"Go to Tibet and see many places, as much as you can; then tell the world" His holiness the Dala Lama Tibet is currently under Chinese rule and there is no escaping this fact as you wander around the old Tibetan quarter. There are soldiers on every street corner in groups of 5 dressed in riot gear and holding rifles, tear gas, batons and shields and some are even stationed on the roof tops looking down upon the crowds. Plain clothed officers also patrol the temples and monastries. There are plently of Chinese in Lhasa both those working and living there and the middle class Chinese tourists. When in Bejing we fell in love with the Chinese people but in Tibet the Chinese appear arrogant, rude and superior. Despite this the Tibetans carry on as usual ... read more

We ended our big China adventure on a high, both literally and figuratively! Lhasa is at an altitude of 3700 metres, but luckily we had been on a long train journey from Chengdu to acclimatise. After a slight communication error, we rushed out of our room at 08.20, having thought we were meeting our guide at 08.30, he had been knocking at our door at 08.20 wondering where we were! No time for a shower (bearing in mind we' been on a train for two days and arrived so late we went straight to bed!) we had an appointment with the potala palace! Tickets are allocated by time, and if you miss your spot, that's it. Upon arrival, I was overwhelmed at the size of it, having no preconceptions of what it would look like. Having ... read more

Lhasa - The Forbidden City Day 19 - Lhasa Rest Day and a well deserved watering We woke up after a much needed rest, and pigged out in the buffet style breakfast in the hotel...eggs made to order and crispy bacon...what better way to start the day! Exhausted, and with a lovely bathroom at my disposal, I stayed behind to ablute while Guy went off exploring. He returned beeming a few hours later having completed a kora of the Potala palace, and bringing fresh yak yoghuort and goodies from a lovely bakery. We dozed and caught up with world events on the news channel before heading out to dinner and drinks with our Everest friend Roy and his guide. After several beers, and lots of great conversation, and very full tummies we ran home through bucketing ... read more