Overland trip - Lhasa...

Now off the road for five days and into Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and home of the Dalai Lama - well, it would be if he wasn't in exile in India!

The hotel in the pleasant end of town (the Tibetan end) and well placed for getting around the city, which is mainly walking!

First sight to see was Barkhor Square - on the face of it a tacky tourist area, with stall after stall selling the same crappy souvenirs or clothes. Looking past that, the area is highly atmospheric and you find yourself sucked into the clockwise procession alongside the pilgrims, making their way around the Jokhang temple. Whether spinning a prayer wheel, playing with beads, chanting ('Om Mani Padme Hom' - 'Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus')or 'prostrating' (the motion of their prayer position, stretching out on the floor as you make your way around the temple) - the sight was amazing! And yes, more smells of rancid Yak butter.

Regrettably neither of us took the leap of faith that is to try some Yak butter tea - a nasty concoction, containing....you guessed it! Hats off to Justin for placing his firm order!

The Potala (spared during the cultural revolution - winter residence of the Dalai Lama and prior seat of the Tibetan goverment) is the main attraction in Lhasa. A stunning building, both inside and out, though a shame that so much of the inside is restricted access - you can probably get into 20 rooms, out of many hundreds. Therefore, considering the 7 hour queue for tickets the previous day (from 6am!), together with joining a scrum that developed from an orderly queue - something of an expedition!

Having said that, Paul chose to take up a mountain bike tour on the morning of ticket queueing, leaving Little Chris to fight off the chinese (in the nicest way).

Cycling through town a bit of an experience, and with the instruction to 'not hesitate or make eye contact', we faced up to the cars head-on, and survived!

From cycling to horseriding - Chris spent a day in the saddle and came across some local horsemen blessing the valley, in full regalia.

Lhasa also the first place for us to experience nightclubbing, Chinese-style. Again, feeling goldfish like as this group of westerners make their way across the floor! Was all in good humour and I'm sure we made some friends with our moves.

Next stop ....five long days on the road, and lots of camping!

For anyone coming to Lhasa - must read '5 Years in Tibet' - even though it's 10 years old, not much seems to have changed.

Despite still being at high altitude, the sun continues to scorch, and the thin air is playing havoc with dry, cracked, lips. We keep smiling....

Paul and Little Chris