Tibet

Tibet captures one's imagination like perhaps no other destination in the world. With most of Tibet lying at 13-15,000 feet in elevation, this truly is the Rooftop of the World! The rugged isolated environment, coupled with the persuasive devotion to the traditions of Buddhism make Tibet seem like almost a land onto itself.

Upon arrival in Lhasa's airport, be prepared for a very long transfer to the city–a distance of over 60 miles, taking over one hour. Lhasa is Tibet's heart and soul. The three big sites that are worth the trip alone are the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple/Barkhon and Norba Lingka (the summer residence of the Dalai Lama).

The Potala Palace is the most striking structure in Lhasa– 13 stories tall with literally thousands of rooms and shrines! Initially built over 1300 years ago, Potala Palace was once the winter residence of the Dalai Lama, as well as the center of government–very impressive! Most sacred among all of Tibet's temples, Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Lhasa. Although not as expansive as Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple is perhaps more mystical and wondrous in the effect it has on you. Encircling the temple is the Barkhor the holiest "walk around" among all of Tibet. This is a fascinating area that captures the local traditions of Tibet. Tibetans gather here from throughout the countryside to exercise their supreme devotion to Buddhism by continuously walking around and prostrating themselves in front of the temple. This is your best opportunity to see Tibetans close-up and personal! We were taken aback by their genuine friendliness, sincerity, and wide, cheerful smiles–Tibetan children are particularly angelic with their distinctive bright, rosy cheeks.

You will find shops, teahouses, and endless stalls of wares for sale in the adjacent area—a great place to throw yourself into Tibetan life! We stayed at the Lhasa Hotel which is by far the finest property in the city–be sure to try the Yak burgers–low fat and absolutely delicious!

Approximately one hour outside Lhasa is Ganden Monastery, a most impressive site! You need a guide and driver with a 4-WD vehicle to manage the long, winding road to the monastery. The views on the way up are breathtaking, only to be outdone by the panoramic views once you reach the monastery itself. We were fortunate to witness a group of over sixty monks chanting in the monastery at 9am–they even allowed us to take their pictures! This is a totally non-tourist experience–at 8-9am you will see no other foreigners. This was a spiritual, almost surreal experience that may have been the climax of our trip to Tibet–truly remarkable! Ganden Monastery was subjected to shelling from (Red Cords?) during the volatile Cultural Revolution. Only the intervention of then premier Chou En-Lai saved the structure. Once we drove back down from the monastery, we stopped at a local grade school to sit in on a first grade class and take pictures–the kids were so beautiful! We were prepared with gifts of pencils and paper which they loved!

Please bear in mind that you should expect some physical discomfort when traveling to the high altitude of Tibet. Although we acclimated ourselves by traveling though the moderately-high altitude areas of Yunnan province before arriving in Tibet, Bev and I still experienced mild headaches during the the first two days of our stay in Lhasa. You may want to ask your doctor for an altitude-sickness medicine like Diomix. Rest assured, however, a journey to Tibet is well worth the initial physical comfort!

Randy & Beverly Lynch,
Founders of K&C