Executive Summary - Lhasa, Tibet

• Saw: Jokhang Monastery, Ramoche Temple, Potala Palace, Monument to the People's Liberation of Tibet 1959 (**gag**), Norbulingka Summer Palace (including the 14th Dalai Lama's toilet!), Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and monks debating.

• Did: Circumambulated the Barkhor Square and the Potala Palace, slagged off the Chinese government with fellow travellers, acclimatised to 3500 meters / 11,480 feet (not too bad so far, except for going to the bathroom 1400 times a day), got into a tug of war - with my arm as the rope - at a jewellry stand in the market area, frantically backing up photos in case of a hard drive failure at high altitude, reading the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, reading Chinese government 'facts' on the 14th Dalai Lama, spent a lot of money with Tibetan (not Chinese!) stands at the markets.

• Ate/Drank: Yak enchilada, yak burger, yak curry, yak noodles (thugpa), yak dumplings (momos), yak and chinese lettuce, yak steak, daal, rice, chicken tikka masala (first Indian food since February!!), steamed buns for breakfast, Lhasa beer, sweet milk tea, banana lassi.

• Favourite part about Lhasa: The way the Tibetans faces light up when you greet them in Tibetan "tashi delek", the smell of yak butter lamps and juniper incense at the temples, and the Potala Palace is a sight to behold.

• Least favourite part about Lhasa: ...will have to wait until I am out of the country and into Nepal. Then let the ranting begin.

• Life-altering revelation which has contributed to my search for universal truth: Altitude sickness can apparently be prevented by not showering the first day of arrival, followed by the ingestion of Lhasa beer!