:: Tibetian Odyssey, take 2 ::
A 2nd visit to Tibet in October 2009 - I needed to complete the 1st visit what I started in December 2005... This time, I travelled by road from Yunnan staying in Dali, Lijiang and Zongdian and then flying into Lhasa.
December 2005
53Pilgrims' soul searching....?
December 2005
46Barkhor Sq from the top of Jokhang monastry
December 2005
29Look carefully.......
and you'll see a lone abode in the middle of the hill slope.....
December 2005
38Gyantse monastry detail..
December 2005
44Debating monks.......
As part of their instruction, they gather occassionally in the evenings to debate each other....
December 2005
45Waiting to see the Panchen.....
December 2005
28Gyantse's main sights....
as sighted from the highway........ On the left is the Pelkor Chode Monastry and the right is the Dzong.
December 2005
23Beyond the valleys......
December 2005
37Gyantse monastry detail..
December 2005
39Monk's new day
sighted at Tashulinpo Monastry, Zhigatse.
December 2005
48Pilgrims' penance......
December 2005
60Mosque entrance......
The only mosque in Lhasa, and what a glorious entrance.....
December 2005
18private residence on the plateau.......
probably housing a large clan. There are many such residences or eve villages that appear ocassionally as you drivealong the highway.
December 2005
13Lunch in a traditional Tibetian restaurant......
December 2005
41Natural refrigeration
Goat meat is commonly slaughtered and sold as whole (rather than chopped up) which is preserved by the natural refrigeration of the cold Tibetian climate - so the deals are always 'wholesale'.
December 2005
14Meeting the locals....
Nomads become very curious as we encounter each other - but I think we (the foreigners) tend to be more curious.....
December 2005
15Dawn's awakening........
Taken at sunrise (about 8:30am in Tibet time) passing thru a village in a moving vehicle. The Tibetian morning frost has a special feel about it.
December 2005
12Top of the world........
December 2005
43Unpaid model.....
Taken at the Jokhang, Lhasa
December 2005
30Gyantse Dzong (Fort)
.... now abandoned. Story has it that the British killed 2000 monks at the loss of 4 British soldiers in a battle to take over Gyantse in the 18C. Gyantse is the closest city to the Indian border, and had special relevance as a trade passage to the British, which the Tibetians resisted.
December 2005
06Journey begins....
after leaving Zhangmu.... when the first signs of Tibetian landscape and frigidity takes shape before you. We hit 2800m within an hour of leaving Zhangmu.
December 2005
05Zhangmu
is the first town that most border transients will stay overnight in Tibet, located 8kms uphill from Kodari (the last Nepal border town) before crossing the Friendship Bridge, 2200m. Very much a commercial town, but one also has to go through another passport control here.
December 2005
02Kodari - 1st border control
December 2005
03Friendship Bridge.....
is the formal border link between Nepal and Tibet (China). This image was taken from Nepal side facing Tibet - once in the China side (after the red-line), photography is not permitted.
December 2005
01Kodari.....
is the last border town in Nepal before crossing into Tibet, about 1300m - a very important trading town for both sides.
December 2005
11Lalung La Pass
This is at about 5000m asl - we stopped for a 'scenery' break, off the Friendship Highway (between Lhasa and Kathmandu). Looking at this landscape, you perhaps have a good idea why they call Tibet the Tibetian Plateau or the "Roof of the World" ... at this altitude you can already feel the thinness of air..... What appears to be waste remains are actually buddhist prayer flags which are tied around those rocks or 'chortens' - this is a common sight in Tibet.
December 2005
08Desolation......
is the first thing that hits you on the road - the Tibetian plateau is characterised by this vast expanse of barren landscape at 3000m to 4000m above sea level. Temperatures in the shade can drop to about freezing, but in the sun exposed areas, it could be upto 20C. The skies are crystal clear.
December 2005
07long and winding roads....
Yes, this is part of the Frienship Highway - outstanding and breathtaking scenic views abound throughout the road journey. The road passes by several vertical cliff edges and at some points there is barely enough space to clear 2 passing cars. The road is often closed because of landslides or heavy snow fall/ice build up, so you're playing against odds doing this journey.
To all of you - this is one of those journeys you must do in your lifetime.
December 2005
04Nepal/Tibet Border...
is seperated by the river - Tibet is on the left. The Nepal town of Kodari is the last border passport control before crossing the Friendship Bridge. You'll note the container trucks on the right sight - that's because there's a huge volume of border trade between China and Nepal that passes thru this nexus. If you pass thru this area late morning, you'll encounter a long queue of trucks waiting to unload their goods.