4 nights in Lhasa On the drive to Lhasa from Gyantse we went over a middle-sized pass at about 4300m (I think) and then along the side of a huge lake for ages. At the other end of the lake we wound up and up another 5000m+ pass where there was a great view over the lake and valley. We didn't stop there though as apparently they charge for parking up there per person. On the way down the pass on the other side we drove past an Odessey Overland truck which was...

<!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> This morning we drove the short distance along good roads to Gyatse. This town has less Chinese influence than Shigatse and has quite a large Tibetan old town. It also has a 600-yo monastery which we visited with Dopjar leading us again. Pelkhor Chode has a large main temple with a prayer hall in the centre, with three chapels leading off to the sides. The chapels contain large buddha st...

<!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> We drove all the way up and over the high pass again but clouds covred the mountain range so we couldn't see it again. Soon we were out of the National Park and back on the Friendship Highway heading east towards Shigatse. Another mountain pass caught us by surprise at 5400m as the ascent was all so gradual. We descended again and eventually camped by the side of the road. We cooked on d...

<!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> We stopped early in Tingri to stock up on snacky stuff for a few days since we won't be near any towns, buying all sorts of weird Chinese snacks, and also stopped to buy the permits for Qomolangma National Park. We turned off the Friendship Highway into the park itself and headed up and up and up around hairpins with great views down the valley. The pass at the top was 5100m, and at the to...

<!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> We were up super early today to get going to the border, but not before we said a very sad goodbye to Rosie, who is leaving us (but may be rejoining later in the trip) and also Enid, who has been advised not to go to high altitude because of low blood pressure. She's going to try to get an individual Chinese visa to join us in Xi'an. The road up to the border followed the river up a gradua...