We have just returned from the most amazing experience travelling in Tibet and Nepal and hope to do it justice. With three cameras going at once, there are over 3000 pictures of this majestic landscape. Of course we will be sensitive and choose a select group to tell the story of our adventure.
From Shanghai, we flew to Xining, China and boarded a train for 24 hours to acclimatize and get ready for the trekking and sight seeing we would do over the next 10 days . The views from the train were mostly of barren landscape with Tibetans living in small yak dung huts in the middle of what we would call "no where".
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| View from Train Car as far as you could see |
There was the occasional "guard" saluting the train as we sped by just in case there might be "dignitaries" on the train. There was no shelter in site - not sure where these guys spent their time when they weren't standing at attention.
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| Saluting the Train |
We immediately fell in love with the prayer flags strung across the gaps in the countryside and rivers.
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| Prayer Flags |
The train arrived in Lhasa almost 24 hours after departure from Xining! Not a bad way to travel. At midnight we reached an altitude of 16,640 feet making it the world's highest train.
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| Happy to be in Lhasa! |
Once we dropped our bags at the hotel, we headed out to see the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama.
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| Summer Palace |
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| Ceremony at Summer Palace |
There was a ceremony going on and we immediately spotted the local Tibetans with their prayer wheels. This man sat and watched and continually twirled. Inside the wheel is a written mantra or special saying and by twirling the wheel, it is given power to come true.
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| Local Tibetan man with a Prayer Wheel |
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| Dave & Kathy in front of Summer Palace |
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| Summer Palace Gates |
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| Ornate architecture of Summer Palace |
The next day we headed to the central Barkhor Square in Lhasa to see the Johkang Temple and the local Tibetans on their daily clockwise walk around the square. We were amazed by the beauty of the people and their devotion to their Buddhist beliefs.
On the old square is Jokhang Temple, the first Buddhist temple in Tibet. All year-round many Tibetans come here on a pilgrimage as it is considered to be the holiest site in Tibet. We saw many Tibetans crawling or prostrating around the temple.
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| Golden curtains where Dalai Lama would view ceremonies in the courtyard below |
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| Johkang Temple rooftop |
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| Prayer Flag pole outside Johkang |
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| View from top of Johkang Temple |
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| From top of Johkang Temple you can see Potala Palace - our next stop |
From the square we headed over to the Potala Palace, the Winter Palace which once was the main residence of the current and 14th Dalai Lama.
In 1959, the current Dalai Lama fled Lhasa for his safety and now lives in India. The palaces have become museums housing amazing Buddha statues and scriptures. Monks still live there but not as many as there once were, due to the Cultural Revolution.
The Potala Palace on top of Red Hill is currently the highest Palace in the world at 12,000 feet above sea level and was a tough climb for our second day in Lhasa.
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| 13 Stories and no elevator?!?! |
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| Views from the palace |
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| Colorful Murals on all of the walls |
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| Heavily Carved Entrance |
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| Beautiful colors and carvings |
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| Ornate furnishings inside the Palace |
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| Tibetan Woman spinning Temple Prayer Wheels |
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| Lots of Luck coming her way |
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| Loving Lhasa and the Potala Palace |
Another day in Lhasa, must be time for another monastery visit - Sera Monastery
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| Sera Monastery |
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| Even Monks had IPhones |
This was a bustling monastery with lots of monks hanging about. Visitors toss money in front of the buddha statues and protectors to gain their favor. We thought these guys were contemplating the furture until we looked closer.
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| Local family visiting Monastery |
Having seen our share of temples and monasteries, it was time to get on the road to Everest Base Camp. We spent three bumpy days in the van, getting acclimatized as we drove off and on the road. We stopped at some remote monasteries and ate our meals with the locals!
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| Yak noodle soup for almost every meal with sweet tea! |
We stopped at the holy Yamdrok Lake. Like mountains, lakes are considered to be sacred by the Tibetans. They believe that protective deities live in the lake and have special spiritual powers. Yamdrok Lake is one of four holy lakes and everyone from the Dalai Lama to local villagers make pilgrimages here.
And just when we thought we had visited our last temple . . .
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| Remote temple on the way to Everest |
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| Beautiful Buddhas in the Temple |
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| Prayer Flags marking our highest elevation so far - 17,000 feet |
As we climbed higher, the mighty Himalayas provided jaw dropping vistas for miles around.
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| Prayer wheels even at high altitude! This lady was oiling the wheels so they would turn in the cold weather. |
By now, we were getting a bit stir crazy so Phil had us "Leap for Joy"! Our guide in the background just rolled his eyes as the driver sprayed water on the brakes to clean them up a bit.
What a way to visit this remote region! Very brave indeed.
Just as we were getting antsy in the van and ready for a glimpse of Mt. Everest, we came around the bend and got our first look! We still had hours of driving ahead but jumped out to get our first photos.
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| Team Tibet |
After some off road boulder dodging and several more hours in the van - we arrived at "tent city" - our home for the next 2 days.
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Little Tibetan Cutie jumped in our van! Splitter pants and all!
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Tent City home we shared with 5 Chinese who slept in the kitchen
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It was about 10 degrees outside and we headed in to our tent to get warm and have some more yak stew! The stove in the middle of the room was fired by yak and sheep dung and was the only source of heat. When it died down about 10:00pm, everyone tucked in to their sleeping bags and bedded down for the night!
Before we turned in, we decided to make our way through the boulder valley and hiked to get a closer view of Mt. Everest.
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| Happy Hikers |
| But. . . not before we visited the highest cave monastery in Tibet! |
It was a teeny, tiny cave in the side of the mountain. Each one of us climbed down through a small opening in the floor to get a closer look.
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| Two nuns who live at the monastery. |
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| Inside the Cave Monastery visiting with the resident kitty! Her purr button was going full force! |
As we said goodbye to our new feline friend, we headed out to do the last bit of hiking to Everest Base Camp. It was slow going as each step took your breath away.
The sun was gorgeous and heated us op on the way.
Phil was in great shape and lead the crew up to Base Camp. Mt. Everest is in the background just ahead!
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| Phil leading the group |
Working Yaks for the Sherpas on the way.
As we got closer, the clouds started rolling in so we waited.
And waited . . .
It was time to head back down the mountain to our tent and a restless night sleep. We were thrilled to have made the trip and to get a glimpse of the majestic Everest!
Next morning we woke to Phil's calls, "Skies are Blue and clear, Let's go!" So up the mountain we hiked again. It was frigid and the hike harder this time - - but the view was worth it!!!
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| Breathtaking |
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| Our amazing view! |
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| Happy Campers |
We did not want to leave this magical place.
It was time to head back down the mountain for some R & R in Kathmandu!
We gained a great deal of respect for the local Tibetan people. Truly committed to each other and their Buddhist beliefs. We hope for a happier future unencumbered by outside forces for all Tibetans.
This was truly a trip of a lifetime. Our guides and friends and of course, the local Tibetans have changed our lives and outlook on life. We greatly appreciate the Tibetan way of life and culture and hope to see it continue for years to come!
Love,
Kathy & Phil
