Lhasa update
On Thursday (5 October) night I met up with Ben, Angela, and Lisa (from Nam-tso) along with 4 other travelers for dinner at a small Tibetan restaurant. It was good fun. Three of the girls were from Seattle. There seem to be a lot of people from Seattle in China and Tibet. I met a couple of people in Chengdu from Seattle and now at least 6 more since I've been in Tibet. Also lots of people from the west coast in general in China (a couple from CO, one from CA, 2 from Vancouver).
On Friday (6 October) morning after a buffet breakfast on the roof top restaurant of the hostel/hotel (which might have the best views in Lhasa), I took the bus to the Nepalese embassy to get apply for a visa. I could get a 30-day visa at the border, but I can get a 60-day (just in case) visa here in Lhasa and its nice to have the visa ahead of time. I heard it was really easy which was great to hear after all the visa troubles I with the Russian and Chinese visas. I went to the counter, got the applicaton, filled it out, returned to the counter, paid my money ($32), and I can pick up my passport the next business day (which unfortunately happens to be on Monday). Wow, that was shockingly easy! The only problem is I want to leave for a trek on Sunday and I asked if I could pick up my passport on Thursday instead of Monday, and they just said, "its better if you pick it up on Monday." What the hell does that mean? Will they cancel my visa if I don't pick up my passport? Who knows!
Then I went to the Potala Palace to get a 'ticket reservation' so that I can get into the palace tomorrow morning. Its a really stupid system. The Chinese really make getting into the Potala Palace a pain in the ass for individual travelers. I think it is so people will just join a tour and pay more money. Then I just wondered around some markets and stuff. I'm getting more use to this city and things don't surprise or shock me any more - or maybe as much - like seeing the carcasses of yaks laying on the sidewalk next to the bakery or sober men peeing in public. Or any number of things that just aren't part of a western culture. I didn't even mention the traffic..... Buses come first, then cars, then motor bikes, then bikes, then people!! Completely the opposite to the west! Its not uncommon to see a bus plow through a cross walk filled with people, during a red light!! People just pile up between the lanes and wait for a break! Crazy. Don't get me started on the spitting and 'field blows' (think blowing your nose with a finger over one nostrol) inside of buildings..... Some things you just don't get use to.
I may have found some one to do a trek with. I'm planning to trek from the Ganden monastery to the Samye monastery starting either Sunday or Tuesday. Its about a 5 day trip and passes over a couple of 5,100+ meter passes during the 80 km length. I need a night before and after the trek at the monasteries and probably 3 nights during the trip. If I can't find some one to go with I will go alone, although I would rather go with at least one other person for several reasons. If I don't leave for the trek on Sunday, I'm going to hike up the mountain that looms over the north edge of Lhasa behind the Potala Palace called Gephel Ri (5,240 meters). I've been eyeing it since I got here and it looks like good fun. It will be a good test of how well I'm acclimatising.
On Friday (6 October) morning after a buffet breakfast on the roof top restaurant of the hostel/hotel (which might have the best views in Lhasa), I took the bus to the Nepalese embassy to get apply for a visa. I could get a 30-day visa at the border, but I can get a 60-day (just in case) visa here in Lhasa and its nice to have the visa ahead of time. I heard it was really easy which was great to hear after all the visa troubles I with the Russian and Chinese visas. I went to the counter, got the applicaton, filled it out, returned to the counter, paid my money ($32), and I can pick up my passport the next business day (which unfortunately happens to be on Monday). Wow, that was shockingly easy! The only problem is I want to leave for a trek on Sunday and I asked if I could pick up my passport on Thursday instead of Monday, and they just said, "its better if you pick it up on Monday." What the hell does that mean? Will they cancel my visa if I don't pick up my passport? Who knows!
Then I went to the Potala Palace to get a 'ticket reservation' so that I can get into the palace tomorrow morning. Its a really stupid system. The Chinese really make getting into the Potala Palace a pain in the ass for individual travelers. I think it is so people will just join a tour and pay more money. Then I just wondered around some markets and stuff. I'm getting more use to this city and things don't surprise or shock me any more - or maybe as much - like seeing the carcasses of yaks laying on the sidewalk next to the bakery or sober men peeing in public. Or any number of things that just aren't part of a western culture. I didn't even mention the traffic..... Buses come first, then cars, then motor bikes, then bikes, then people!! Completely the opposite to the west! Its not uncommon to see a bus plow through a cross walk filled with people, during a red light!! People just pile up between the lanes and wait for a break! Crazy. Don't get me started on the spitting and 'field blows' (think blowing your nose with a finger over one nostrol) inside of buildings..... Some things you just don't get use to.
I may have found some one to do a trek with. I'm planning to trek from the Ganden monastery to the Samye monastery starting either Sunday or Tuesday. Its about a 5 day trip and passes over a couple of 5,100+ meter passes during the 80 km length. I need a night before and after the trek at the monasteries and probably 3 nights during the trip. If I can't find some one to go with I will go alone, although I would rather go with at least one other person for several reasons. If I don't leave for the trek on Sunday, I'm going to hike up the mountain that looms over the north edge of Lhasa behind the Potala Palace called Gephel Ri (5,240 meters). I've been eyeing it since I got here and it looks like good fun. It will be a good test of how well I'm acclimatising.
posted by Dustin at 4:42 AM
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