Next morning we woke up early and after a delicious free breakfast, set off for the Palace. When we got there they told us we had to come back at 11.00am to buy a ticket for the next day but after a little arguing about being short of time in Lhasa we were allowed to proceed and given a ticket for that day.
By getting up early we avoided the crowds we had endured in mainland China and didn't have to fight our way to see the relics. We were prepared to be really puffed out walking up 600 steps to the top of the Potala. However the famous steps at the front have been fenced off to house a stage for the 40 year celebrations. So we went up a gentler path at the back and weren't puffed at all. Hopefully our trekking in Pakistan had helped as we later found out that the girl of the couple we had arrived with had altitude sickness and had been in bed since arriving in Lhasa.
You enter through the white palace which is where the Dalai Lama lived and received foreign dignitaries. Then proceed to the red palace where many of the Dalai Lamas are buried in huge golden, jewel encrusted tombs. The atmosphere of the place was amazing with many devotees, burning butter lamps and monks. We spent the rest of the day circumnavigating the Barkhor looking at buddhist thankas (religious paintings) and getting quotes for other things we want to do in Tibet. We rounded off with a nice dinner and surprisingly some Australian wine. Jerry had yak steak which we really liked, a little strong for Maggi. More thumbnails ...
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