Tibetan adventures Part 2

Well, the next couple of days pass in a blur, as altitude sickness dominates me. We exceed 5000 metres above sea level as we cross the Lalungla Pass, calling for celebration, and as we go down the other side, those with altitude sickness breath a sigh of relief.

The first 2 days of Tibet, breathtaking scenery is juxtaposed against very basic facilities- it would be a very difficult place to live. For me, the basic accommodation and facilities combined with cold and high altitude make the first 2 days a challenge.

After 2 nights roughing it in Tibet, we reach Xigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. Up until now, the only Chinese influence has been the odd Chinese settlement and Chinese road signs. In Xigatse, the Chinese cultural influence is everywhere- I'm not sure what I expected but the Chinese are certainly here.

While in Xigatse, we visit the Tashilumpo monastery, the seat of the Pachen Lama in Tibet. With some political wrangling, the Panchen Lama prevented the destruction of his monastery- a fate which befell most of the other Buddhist sites in Tibet. The monastery is exquisite, and I wander through the amazing chapels and squares, almost tasting the immense energy seeping out of the buildings. Tashilumpo is a living monastery- it has practicing monks in residence, and even the thought of the monks chanting here makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.