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.