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Published: April 24th 2015
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After a well earned sleep we headed for the buffet breakfast. You never know what to expect at a buffet and I wasn't in the mood to be daring. Cornflakes with warm milk and sugar, followed by scrambled eggs and coffee was enough to get me started.
Our only real stop today was Tashi Lhun Po Monastery the seat of the Panchen Lama. One of Tibet's 6 great Gilupa institutions (Yellow Hat). Built in 1447 by a nephew of Tsong Khapa and is the size of a small village. It has a mesmerising statue of Jampa, the maitreya buddha (Future buddha). The largest gilded statue in the world. The monastery is famed for the opulent tombs of the fourth and tenth Panchen Lamas, the former saw 85 kilos of god and masses of jewels used in its construction. Feeling the effects of a cold, a quick trip to the local Doctor for Noelene was the next adventure. I was ushered into a room with a man with a white coat and our guide Sherub described the symptoms. Names were asked and puzzled looks followed and ages asked. A script was written and a range of pills dispensed. A
range in size and colour and when to take them. Initial taking of the tablets appeared positive but led to nausea so may be disbanded.
Following this it was time to get out permit to travel back to Lhasa and stock up on car snacks! We put Judy and Noelene in charge of rationing. Just as well because a land slide saw us held up for a very long time. Fortunately Sharon and Noelene braved the very smelly and windy long drops at the side of the mountain before the delay which left Judi and Sue to find their own comfort stop at the side of the road with the cars lined up waiting. They managed to make their way down the steep river bank into a 'non visible to the road' spot to do their persona business.
Due to the very controlling and stupid road rules imposed by the Chinese Government on the Tibetans, they have to get a piece of paper signed off every 60 or so kilometres and that 60 kilometres must take a prescribed amount of time otherwise they get fined. It would be ok if the times were remotely
reasonable. The distance from Shigatze to Lhasa is 218km and it took from 11.30am till 6pm. The roads were not that windy though there were quite a few trucks and insane drivers over taking on blind corners. We had to stop for about 20minutes at one stage whilst they cleared a rock slide off the road. Crazy times.
Tonight we are going to go and see the Potala Palace lit up and have some dinner. We have the morning to explore tomorrow before our train to Beijing, our final destination for the trip. The time has flown by and it has been so much fun. The altitude made us all sick but nothing serious. It will be nice to go home too.
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Sarah, Bruce, Zoe
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Hi there
Happy to finally track you, ladies. We will go thru your entries from now on. Hope you get to celebrate ANZAC day where you are.