To Tibet

 From the roof of our homestay.

 People out working the farms very early in the morning.

 Shila's shop, which is on the first floor of her house.

The Boudhanath Stupa, that we visited on May 7th. 

 Mount Everest!

 And the Himalayas.

 The flood plain just before we landed in Lhasa.

 Goran, the young man I met on the flight from Bangkok to Kathmandu, who is also on a trip to Tibet.

Chinese style apartment blocks.

Tuesday, May 9^th.

We were up for breakfast by 6:30 and packed and out of our homestay by 7:15. Shila made us ‘pancakes’ this morning, which were doughier than back home. I had a banana and some honey with mine. GAdventures wants to support this community but it is also a great option for filling time until our Tibetan visas are ready. The homestay was a great opportunity to experience first hand how a traditional Nepali family lives. We cooked and ate with them and stayed in their home. And we supported the families in a worthy endeavour so that the women can be a little more independent. Unfortunately, we did not meet Shila’s husband as he is a travel guide and was away from home.

Then we loaded up in the bus and drove back to Kathmandu airport. We got there a bit earlier than expected and had to wait about 45 minutes for our visas to arrive so that we could enter the airport and check in. The flight left on time and was only one and half hours. BK gave me his window seat (I was on the aisle seat) and the views the Himalayas were amazing with mostly clear blue sky. They gave us a basic lunch box on the flight, the highlight of which was a container of yak yogurt, which was light and smooth. As we got off the plane I met up with Goran again (who I had met on the plane flying to Kathmandu) and his group. He had been warned that they might have to wait an extra day for the visa, but apparently not. We were warned that the Chinese customs could be very strict and BK told us not to bring any Lonely Planet Guide books because they will be confiscated. Dirk decided to risk it anyway as he wanted to read about what he was seeing. However, even though he buried the book in his carry on bag, they found it during the x-ray and took it.

When we arrived at the airport we were met by out Tibetan guide Wangee and our driver, Tenzing and our nice van. Wangee gave us all a white cloth scarf called a khata which has eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism printed on it. It is given to people either for welcome, good luck or farewell.

They immediately drove us to a bank so we could get some Chinese money. Thankfully my BMO credit card worked again in the ATM, however, the people who were changing money took forever. They got two people done in 90 minutes, so BK gave up and will do the rest tomorrow.

Then we drove two hours to Lhasa through the small mountains of the valley. On route we saw our first sighting of the enormous Potala Palace. When we arrived at the Yak Hotel, we settled into our rooms and then met up at 8:00 for dinner in a great restaurant right beside the hotel. I had the yak sizzler dinner which was very tender and delicious. A lot of people in the group are suffering a little from headaches and heavy breathing because of the altitude change, as the atmosphere is much thinner. We were at 1400 metres in Kathmandu, but now we are at 3700 metres. 

After that a group of us went for a walk to stretch our legs. We wound up walking about 20 minutes to the Potala Palace to see it at night. It was lit up which made it even more spectacular. I did not bring my camera, so I will have to go again tomorrow. Then we went back and to bed.

First impressions of Lhasa and Tibet: clean, affluent, traffic lights, paved roads, well organized with lots of lights and shops. In the area of our hotel there are lots of upscale shops and large SUV style cars.