Wow! Today we were treated to one of the most beautiful drives we have ever experienced. It started with a steep climb with many switchbacks which took us up to a 5000m summit where we started to believe that Tibet truly is the roof of the world!

We then descended to Yamzhof Yumcog lake, considered sacred by the Tibetans. It is the most beautiful colour of deep azure blue - a colour we have never before seen in a lake. As we drove along this lake, spectacular glacier peaks began appearing behind the bleak mountains that flanked the lake. At every turn a new vista came into view that had us oohing and aahing for miles. The next summit which was also 5000m (over 16,000ft!!) had an enormous glacier which descended almost to the road. The rest of the drive took us down and along a river, through small villages. Here people were drying yak dung for fuel and harvesting grass and heaping it on their roofs to feed the animals in winter.

We consider ourselves lucky (so far!!) in dealing with the altitude extremes. We were a little dizzy the first night in Lhasa, but have adapted well. We are okay at the high altitudes but definitely notice it if we move quickly or climb at all. From Gyangtse, where we are tonight at 3900m (12,800ft), we ascend every day until we reach the Everest Base Camp where we will stay overnight. At 17,000 ft, it is about 200m higher than the altitude we experienced today and we will stay there overnight. That may not be so easy!