Eyes to the wall.

The last leg of our festive adventure; Beijing.

From the spiritual to the sacred.

In whatever light, the forbidden palace looked majestic.

Through the first of three entrances - the further into the palace you advanced, the more important you were.

If you are the Emperor you live in this ornate palace.

The Palace to administer affairs of State.

Emperors Throne

The more animals on the roof line, the more important you are!
Guess who owns this roof??

Making sure we put our rubbish away!

The huge frozen moat right around the palace.
A great place to skate on!!!

Temple of Heaven:
Apparently the largest complex for worshipping the God of Heaven in the world

Worth a photo!!

The Summer palace
The largest, most beautiful and exquisite imperial garden in the world - apparently
Closed for winter!

Seventeen Arch Bridge
Connecting the Eastern shore of Kunming Lake with the beautiful Nanhu Island

Yes - we are visiting a tomb!

Underground Palace - Ding Tomb.

Headstone of the last Ming emperor:
Zhu Youjian (1611 - 1644)
The inscription on the head stone
explains what he did for the
Chinese people!!!

Tiananmen square
Over a million people can gather here during important occasions
 - our visit was not one of them!

100 meters from the square :
typical Beijing back street.

Another typical Chinese scene:
Jianzi (Chinese hacky sack)
Played with enormous skill throughout China
by men, women, young and old.
Note the statue in honour of this skillful and athletic pastime.
Can you spot the "Kinja" - four feathered shuttlecock?

Finally found a place to skate 

The Chinese will ride a bike anywhere!!

The middle of Beijing: a fighter jet and Father Christmas!!

Yum, what is for dinner?

We tried - but the response was
"What is the problem?"

We think the opera performer
ate one of the above!

Hanneke looking suitably civilized and safe.

Where is Humpty Dumpty??

Looking west

Looking East

Looking amazed!

Up to watchtower number 5.

We were so lucky with the weather
and the absence of fellow wall walkers.

Hanneke just off to find the end of the wall!!

Still searching!!

Just mind blowing - the scale and terrain the wall covers.

Even nature appears impressed with the Wall.

Another gratuitous Wall shot.

Had to get a selfie somehow!!

Finally looks like we found the end!!
Wrong; we found the way down from the wall is via toboggan!!

A great way to end a unique experience.

The View from the "Roof of the World"

Xi'an - Lhasa - Shigatse - Lhasa - Beijing.
Our adventure continues.

Anything interesting out of the window?
 Start of our 32 hour train trip from Xi'an to Lhasa.

Started with hills and farmland.

Our "Sleeper" - we chose the soft option - sharing a bunk compartment with two other people.

Every inch of suitable land is used for food production.

Making our way up to the plateau - a distance of 2864 kilometers.

Colours of the "Plateau of Tibet"

Delicious train food 

Bed time - luckily the snoring was kept to a minimum.

The dining car - before breakfast.

Dawn on the Roof of the World!

We were surprised by the lack of snow - too dry apparently.

Typical scene from Xining to Lhasa;On the highest railway in the world.

At last some Yaks.

We stopped counting in the end!

The train was popular with the locals - useful in getting to the capital. 

A few white peaks.

Blue sky, open space, distant mountains; 
5000 meters above sea level! 

Finally Lhasa.

Stunning backdrop to a city filled with spiritual, historical and  cultural awareness.

Potala Palace - "home" of Dalai Lamas, past and present.

Obligatory photo opportunity :-) . 

A real photo - despite looking like a backdrop for a "Disney Movie!!".

95% of Tibetans are devout Buddhists
many make the 'pilgrimage' to the Potala palace
to see the resting place of past Dalai Lamas. 

We wondered if she had a 'direct line" or the latest
Dalai Lama app?

Old; young; able or infirm all paid their respects for hours.

Jokhang Temple - Tibet's spiritual centre.

The temple was built in 647 AD - a mixture of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural styles.

Even at night the Temple attracts thousands of devotees.

Devotion manifests itself through prostrating oneself in front of the temple for hours.

"Om Mani Padme Hum" - The ceaseless spiritual chant
bestowing compassion to all peoples of the world.

Some pilgrims prostrate themselves every
three steps - the most devout coming
from hundreds of kilometers
to the spiritual capital; taking months and bearing
the physical toll.

Inside the temple.

A street scenes in 'old town' Lhasa.

Bronze Yaks are fun whatever your age!

Children are cute whatever their culture.

Meals on Wheels

A wonderful place to eat.

The "New Town" 

Even in Tibet!!!!

Does Lhasa have a choice but embrace the 21st century?
Thankfully tradition and culture take priority.

We had the opportunity to explore Tibet's second largest city - Shigatse, about 300 kilometers west of Lhasa; another amazing experience.

Prayer flags cross the main road - thankfully they worked for us.

The road largely follows the Yarlung Zangbu river.

Note the road traversing the hillside.

Yamdrok Lake - one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet.

Breath taking - in so many ways.

Mt Nyenchen Kangsar Glacier.

Gyantse - note the 'castle' on the hill.

Monasteries dot the landscape - Spiritual oasis for the
local Tibetans.

Gyantse Kumbum
The most famous multi-story "Tibetan Chapel" containing 108 chapels.

Drak Yerpa caves - one of the holiest sights around Lhasa;
contains 108 meditation caves.

Good exercise for mind and body.

Maybe fly to the top.

Easier coming down!

One of the many chapels
built into the cave.

Worth the climb.

Obviously I am a little smelly after the climb!

Yaks are more than welcome in the monasteries.

Lunch after the climb - yes Hanneke did have Yak curry.

Sera Monastery - debating monks.

Not sure what they were discussing
but they were very animated and
a great deal more polite than
some parliamentarians. 

Young Tibetan mode of transport.

A more adult form of transport to Beijing.

Scenes from the plane.

At last we encounter snow.