Lhasa - Day 1

We arrived in Lhasa, in the rain, late Wednesday afternoon.  After a short bit of processing (as foreigners, we were whisked away to a separate building to have our passports scanned and permit examined), we headed out to find our guide.  He was there and waved us over.  Tashi will be our guide and Lobsang will be our driver for our week here.

After a short drive through crowded streets, we were deposited at the Yak Hotel.  The Lhasa Kitchen was recommended for supper.  After Chinese noodles and fruit for the past 3 days on the train, it was very nice to get into some decent Indian food.  Real garlic naan, veg biryani, paneer and fried veg momos (all for about $17).  And since it's always nice to be where the beer is cheaper (and safer) than water, we picked up 2 bottles on the way back to the hotel.

One local feature we did see on our stroll after supper, also briefly on the drive in earlier, was the iconic Potala Palace.  Former home of the Dalai Lama.

So, this morning, our guide took us to the Potala Palace.  It's quite a view from the front, and by the time we arrived, there was blue sky above.  The Palace was built in the mid-1600s, and completed in 50 years.  Obviously without modern equipment.  Stone and wood.  Whitewashed and painted each year by volunteers.

By the time we had climbed to the top (pant, pant), we had climbed another 100 meters.  There are about 1000 rooms in the palace but only some are open.  Many Buddhas, many other religious icons, tombs of many past Dalai Lamas.  We are here at a good time because there are far fewer tourists and Tibetans who come on pilgrimage each year are still busy with harvest and other personal things.

After the Palace, Tashi took us to a Tibetan tea pavilion.  The locals come here to sip tea and visit.  We had Masala tea (with milk and sugar) and a bowl of yak noodle soup.  And yes, in case you were wondering, both were excellent.  😁

On the way back, I had a chance to get some video of a Tibetan circle dance.  Far more dignified than the chicken dance (anyone from the prairies will know what dance I'm talking about).

After a rest, we headed for the Jokhang temple, a short walk from our hotel.  Among other things, a great view from the roof.  This is the temple that most locals visit to do their prostrations, either just in front of the temple, on the clockwise circuit around the temple or all the way from whatever they live.  We saw quite a number engaged in that ritual.  Many more were walking the circuit (there are at several such circuits here in Lhasa), prayer beads in their left hands, sometimes with prayer wheels in their right hands, chanting their mantras as they went.

The day was brought to a close by more Tibetan Nepali Indian food and two hikes back to the Potala Palace for late afternoon and evening pictures.