Nov 16, 2009 - Lhasa - The Potala

The Potala.The Potala....

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 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 - 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 - 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. ...

May 9, 2009 - Last of Lhasa

Yesterday we caught the bus 8km west of Lhasa to the Drepung (Rice Heap) Monastery which was once one of the world’s largest monasteries, home to over 10000 monks in its heyday. ... Hard to believe these people are all older than me when they act like school children! Today was a free day and whilst the others opted to drive 2 hours out to the Ganden Monastery for the day, I am luxuriating in no plans at all and wandering around Lhasa at my leisure. ... It could be my only monastery free day in awhile so I am revelling in it, despite the disgruntled reponses from some of my travelling companions when I said I wasn't going with them.Yesterday we caught the bus 8km west of Lhasa to the Drepung (Rice Heap) Monastery which was once one of the world’s largest monasteries, home to over 10000 monks in its heyday. ... Hard to believe these people are all older than me when they act like school children! Today was a free day and whilst the others opted to drive 2 hours out to the Ganden Monastery for the day, I am luxuriating in no plans at all and wandering around Lhasa at my leisure. ... It could be my only monastery free day in awhile so I am revelling in it, despite the disgruntled reponses from some of my travelling companions when I said I wasn't going with them....

May 7, 2009 - Monasteries and more monasteries

Yesterday involved a trip out to the Jokhang Temple in the heart of Lhasa. ... In the afternoon we all caught a bus out to the Sera Monastery about 5kn north of Lhasa to watching the monks debating in the monastery’s debating courtyard. ... Sera used to be home to about 5000 monks but many of the monks have gone ‘missing’ and now only several hundred remain.Yesterday involved a trip out to the Jokhang Temple in the heart of Lhasa. ... In the afternoon we all caught a bus out to the Sera Monastery about 5kn north of Lhasa to watching the monks debating in the monastery’s debating courtyard. ... Sera used to be home to about 5000 monks but many of the monks have gone ‘missing’ and now only several hundred remain....

May 6, 2009 - Lhasa

I realised why we had to get there so early before our 11am flight, it was very tedious! The other bonus of getting there early was that my tour leader Gelu, managed to get me a left hand window seat so that I had prime viewing position as we flew over Everest about half way through our 1 hour flight to Lhasa. ... From there we drove towards the main city of Lhasa, about an hour away and stopped off at the ‘Natural Buddha’ on the way which is anything but natural as you can see in the photo. ... The accommodation in Lhasa is pretty basic but at least it has a window, unlike my room in Kathmandu. ... And it has free laundry service! Lhasa is much more modern and clean than I had anticipated, and the roads even seem to have rules as well as maintained surfaces. ... The Potala is Lhasas cardinal landmark and is considered one of the greatest wonders of world architechture. ...

Apr 10, 2009 - Thank you

We just took it very easy on our last day in Tibet - did some shopping, and just tried to absorb the culture.We just took it very easy on our last day in Tibet - did some shopping, and just tried to absorb the culture....

Apr 9, 2009 - Back Country Tibet

We left Lhasa, at about 12000' elevation, and drove through mountain passes marked at 5190 meters (approx 17000'). ... On our way out of town,we passed some local people making a pilgrimage to Lhasa city. ... Oh, and on the way back to Lhasa 8 hours later, we passed the pilgrimage people again. ...

Apr 8, 2009 - Monasteries

The next day we visited 2 monasteries, the Norbulinka and Sera monastery. Both are located on the outskirts of Lhasa, so the monks have more privacy and "more quiet" as our guide says. ... She tried all day to explain the roots of Tibetan Buddhism but frankly its so complicated, that there is no way to grasp it in one day.The next day we visited 2 monasteries, the Norbulinka and Sera monastery. Both are located on the outskirts of Lhasa, so the monks have more privacy and "more quiet" as our guide says. ... She tried all day to explain the roots of Tibetan Buddhism but frankly its so complicated, that there is no way to grasp it in one day....