Sangzhuzi Hotel Xigaze

... that are<br>shown throughout the T. monastery are of the Chinese-appointed<br>Panchen Lama &#8211; the other kid is a political prisoner and hasn't<br>been seen for years. Crazy. <br><br><br><br><br>As<br>far as the grounds the most happening area was the courtyard where<br>monks basically hang out. We watched them as they assembled for<br>their daily chant at 5pm in the assembly hall. The coolest thing<br>about watching these monks is seeing how normal ...

... dress or some enormous dogs, also in fancy headwear. We drove down to the lake, which was crystal clear up close (turquoise from above) and took in the landscape. Tibet is really so beautiful. <br><br> <br><br>Onwards to Gyantse, reputedly the least Chinese influenced of towns, passing a mountain range, with a height over 7000m and snow caps. We also stopped beside a glacier. Amazing.<br> <br> <br><br>In ...

... things unmentionable (or unidentifiable) sloshing around on the ground. A bad day to be wearing sandals perhaps (but probably a worse day to be a chicken...)<br><br>Off out for (hopefully!) a good dinner tonight, then back on the road again heading to Lhasa, which we should reach in a couple of days (weather/checkpoints/truck engine permitting). No doubt we'll update you again from there - best wishes to you all in the meantime x

... directions. Nobody seems to understand the word "bank", or "money" and when I show them a bankcard they look in wonder as if I've just pulled a rabbit out of my hat. None of the banks we come across is working or if they are they don't accept our cards. It's exasperating, also because Raquel and Caroline are suffering from the altitude and can't keep up. It's almost closing time and we've been warned that no ATM will function later - and we're ...

... the closure of the lake area. we heard rumours that the lake would reopen in a couple of days. when we inquired at a travel agent that had been recommended to us about booking a two day trip to nam tso we were told that they didn't know when the lake would reopen and they had no further interest in talking to us. we decided to give up on the lake and focus on getting to the nepali border, trying to see whatever seemed most interesting on the way. we decided to go to ...

... 2hrs drive to Shigatse, where we quickly checked in to hotel, got lunch down us befor heading off to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Shigatse itself was large and ugly with much chinese influence. The monastery was the winter palace of the Panchen Lama, the place was like a small town but most of it was destroyed and desolate. We saw the giant Future Buddah (Maitreya) at over 25m height, the tomb of the 5th-9th Panchen Lamas and continued ...

... of a lot of the Soviet-era architecture that I saw around central Asia that was either totally decrepit and nobody had got around to tearing down, or was brand new but had been ageing and crumbling since before the project had even been completed (mainly in Turkmenistan). Kind of reassuring to see little difference between the remnants of an evil empire almost 20 years defunct, and one that's supposed to be the next superpower : )

... Chinese can have them. Our Land Cruiser is a gutted steel-shell of a vehicle with two benches welded to the floor. Sure, its roof leaked and there was nothing to hold onto. But we had a snorkel! We could fully submerge! (Passam denied all of our requests to do such though). Passenger doors? Who needs them. We just climed out over the front seat. A suspension? Bah... They're for wussies. Sitting next to Passam is Tenpa, our guide. A sweet 25-year-old kid who hales ...

... around Gyagtse. I reached a traditional Tibetan village. It was great to see the Tibetans carrying out their daily duties, such as spinning wool etc. One family saw my interest and invited me into their home. The best part of walking around the Tibetan communities are the children! It always goes as follows - they will shout hello, and when I answer hello back ...they giggle. Its so cute! At 3pm we set off in our landcruisers to Xigaze. On the ...

... NGO worker was recently handed a life sentence. I hold my tongue until we are here in the countryside and we can talk openly. ( I also had to wait to write this until I was out of the country) According to Tibetans, the Panchen Lama is 2nd in spiritual importance to the Dalai Lama, and like the Dalai Lama is foretold. It is believed that the current Panchen Lama, identified by the current Dalai Lama in 1995, was kidnapped by the Chinese government in 1996 at the age of six ...