Xi'an - Lhasa - Shigatse - Lhasa - Beijing.
Our adventure continues.
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| Anything interesting out of the window? Start of our 32 hour train trip from Xi'an to Lhasa. |
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| Started with hills and farmland. |
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| Our "Sleeper" - we chose the soft option - sharing a bunk compartment with two other people. |
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| Every inch of suitable land is used for food production. |
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| Making our way up to the plateau - a distance of 2864 kilometers. |
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| Colours of the "Plateau of Tibet" |
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| Delicious train food |
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| Bed time - luckily the snoring was kept to a minimum. |
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| The dining car - before breakfast. |
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| Dawn on the Roof of the World! |
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| We were surprised by the lack of snow - too dry apparently. |
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| Typical scene from Xining to Lhasa;On the highest railway in the world. |
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| At last some Yaks. |
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| We stopped counting in the end! |
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| The train was popular with the locals - useful in getting to the capital. |
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| A few white peaks. |
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| Blue sky, open space, distant mountains; 5000 meters above sea level! |
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| Finally Lhasa. |
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| Stunning backdrop to a city filled with spiritual, historical and cultural awareness. |
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| Potala Palace - "home" of Dalai Lamas, past and present. |
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| Obligatory photo opportunity :-) . |
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| A real photo - despite looking like a backdrop for a "Disney Movie!!". |
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| 95% of Tibetans are devout Buddhists many make the 'pilgrimage' to the Potala palace to see the resting place of past Dalai Lamas. |
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| We wondered if she had a 'direct line" or the latest Dalai Lama app? |
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| Old; young; able or infirm all paid their respects for hours. |
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| Jokhang Temple - Tibet's spiritual centre. |
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| The temple was built in 647 AD - a mixture of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural styles. |
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| Even at night the Temple attracts thousands of devotees. |
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| Devotion manifests itself through prostrating oneself in front of the temple for hours. |
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| "Om Mani Padme Hum" - The ceaseless spiritual chant bestowing compassion to all peoples of the world. |
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| 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. |
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| Inside the temple. |
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| A street scenes in 'old town' Lhasa. |
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| Bronze Yaks are fun whatever your age! |
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| Children are cute whatever their culture. |
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| Meals on Wheels |
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| A wonderful place to eat. |
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| The "New Town" |
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| Even in Tibet!!!! |
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| Does Lhasa have a choice but embrace the 21st century? Thankfully tradition and culture take priority. |
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| We had the opportunity to explore Tibet's second largest city - Shigatse, about 300 kilometers west of Lhasa; another amazing experience. |
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| Prayer flags cross the main road - thankfully they worked for us. |
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| The road largely follows the Yarlung Zangbu river. |
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| Note the road traversing the hillside. |
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| Yamdrok Lake - one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. |
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| Breath taking - in so many ways. |
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| Mt Nyenchen Kangsar Glacier. |
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| Gyantse - note the 'castle' on the hill. |
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| Monasteries dot the landscape - Spiritual oasis for the local Tibetans. |
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| Gyantse Kumbum The most famous multi-story "Tibetan Chapel" containing 108 chapels. |
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| Drak Yerpa caves - one of the holiest sights around Lhasa; contains 108 meditation caves. |
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| Good exercise for mind and body. |
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| Maybe fly to the top. |
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| Easier coming down! |
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| One of the many chapels built into the cave. |
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| Worth the climb. |
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| Obviously I am a little smelly after the climb! |
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| Yaks are more than welcome in the monasteries. |
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| Lunch after the climb - yes Hanneke did have Yak curry. |
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| Sera Monastery - debating monks. |
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| Not sure what they were discussing but they were very animated and a great deal more polite than some parliamentarians. |
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| Young Tibetan mode of transport. |
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| A more adult form of transport to Beijing. |
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| Scenes from the plane. |
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| At last we encounter snow. |
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