Nov 16, 2009 - Lhasa - Dancing Ladies in the Barkhor

I went for a walk around the Barkhor and was very lucky to see a group of ladies, in traditional Tibetan dress.I went for a walk around the Barkhor and was very lucky to see a group of ladies, in traditional Tibetan dress....

Nov 16, 2009 - Lhasa - The Potala

The Potala.The Potala....

Nov 15, 2009 - Lhasa - Jokhang and the Barkhor

The Johkang temple/monastery is the most celebrated temple in Tibet.The Johkang temple/monastery is the most celebrated temple in Tibet....

Nov 15, 2009 - Lhasa - Shey Monastery

Sera monastery is one of the “big three” monasteries in Tibet. So I have augmented them with a few shots of what Lhasa looks like now that the Chinese have “rebuilt” it…. ...

Nov 15, 2009 - Tibetan Opera

A Night At The Opera, as Freddy Mercury and the boys from Queen named one of their albums.A Night At The Opera, as Freddy Mercury and the boys from Queen named one of their albums....

Nov 14, 2009 - Gyantse to Lhasa

The drive today took in Kharola Glacier, Turquoise Lake - Yamdrok Tso, and a high mountain pass that we didn't stop at because you would have had to pay to take photos. The last photos show the hotel I'm staying at - quite beautiful, in the old Tibet area of Lhasa. ...

Nov 13, 2009 - Gyantse

In Gyantse we visited the Pelkhor Chode Monastery. ... The internal buddhas are quite exceptional.In Gyantse we visited the Pelkhor Chode Monastery. ... The internal buddhas are quite exceptional....

Nov 11, 2009 - Tibet - Nyalam, Tingre, Lhatse

I'm in Tibet! Actually it's really now China, with a few poor Tibetans handing on for dear life as the Chinese come in and destroy the place. The start of the Tibet tour was Kathmandu to Nyalam, then on to Tingri and Lhatse. ... Nothing hugely interesting - we were supposed to be able to see Everest and friends from some of the mountain passes, but it was cloudy.I'm in Tibet! Actually it's really now China, with a few poor Tibetans handing on for dear life as the Chinese come in and destroy the place. The start of the Tibet tour was Kathmandu to Nyalam, then on to Tingri and Lhatse. ... Nothing hugely interesting - we were supposed to be able to see Everest and friends from some of the mountain passes, but it was cloudy....

May 16, 2009 - Zhangmu

Way before the crack of dawn we all piled on to the bus as Gelu had informed us we needed to get an early start to avoid the numerous construction road blocks present on the only road to the Nepalese border. Finally we arrived at the border town of Zhangmu at 1. ... 30am having travelled a total of 180km in 20 hours.Way before the crack of dawn we all piled on to the bus as Gelu had informed us we needed to get an early start to avoid the numerous construction road blocks present on the only road to the Nepalese border. Finally we arrived at the border town of Zhangmu at 1. ... 30am having travelled a total of 180km in 20 hours....

May 15, 2009 - Tingri

I woke up early (did I say 'woke', that cannot be since I don't think I even slept) and took 10 minutes to convince myself to get out of bed and brave the freezing cold and howling wind. I think that will take much longer than a day though! We left Rongphu and took a long and slow drive south towards the border and stopped in the minuscule town of Tingri, population 500. ... Shower was not included in the room price but I purchased one for 10Yuan, the long drop was free however.I woke up early (did I say 'woke', that cannot be since I don't think I even slept) and took 10 minutes to convince myself to get out of bed and brave the freezing cold and howling wind. I think that will take much longer than a day though! We left Rongphu and took a long and slow drive south towards the border and stopped in the minuscule town of Tingri, population 500. ... Shower was not included in the room price but I purchased one for 10Yuan, the long drop was free however....

May 13, 2009 - Everest Base Camp

After an exhilarating drive for about 9 hours of increasingly treacherous road from Sayka along what is little more than a yak track we arrived at Rongphu - about 5000m above sea level and a mere 8km from Everest Base Camp.After an exhilarating drive for about 9 hours of increasingly treacherous road from Sayka along what is little more than a yak track we arrived at Rongphu - about 5000m above sea level and a mere 8km from Everest Base Camp....

May 12, 2009 - Sakya

A four hour drive southeast from Shigatse, accessed down a dirt road through a farming valley, saw us arrive at the small town of Sakya. ... There are only about 2000 people in and around this town and after walking its limits in about an hour, discovered it really doesn't have anything to offer! Although one distinctive characteristic of Sakya is that unlike the standard whitewashing of buildings that you see elsewhere in Tibet, Sakya's buildings are ash grey with white and red vertical stripes. ... And of course, the draw here is not one, but two monasteries! The hillside northern monastery is mostly reduced to picturesque ruin but the heavy, brooding fortress-like Sakya Monastery is still standing strong. ...