This is it .....Lhasa
April 29th 2009 14:40
Lhasa at last!!! Everyone would have been wondering if we ever made it.
Yes! Of course we did.
By crossing the Brahamaputra River we finally came into Lhasa. Passing beautiful drawings on rock faces as we drove on the outskirts.
Please remember this is the Lhasa of 1999 and that was a whole 10years ago, so my view of Lhasa would be very different to what it is today.
From what I have heard about it of recent times , I am glad I made the journey when I did .
Looking back ,although I have travelled to many unusual places , I must say every time I think of this trip it takes my breath away. I am sure the group we went with would feel the same.
So much has happened in Tibet in the 10years past , maybe I would never recognise the places that I visited in Lhasa.
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We visited Potala Palace and just the walk up the cobble stones to the entrance was enough to leave you gasping for air . The city of Lhasa is at an altitude of 3,650metres.
The walk is rather a steep one and somewhat , a long walk from the street level to this towering building that overlooked the once very isolated city of Lhasa.
Again a very indescribable picture awaits the persons who enter this magnificent building and the home of the Dalai Lhama's of Tibet.
Potala Palace had been protected by Zhou Enlai during the Cultural Revolution of China, it is said that he sent his own troops to protect it.
We were very fortunate as apparently 4years prior to our visit the Poatala Palace had extensive renovations done to it.
Ther are many passages inside and various parts of the palace had chapels, teaching and training areas for religious education.
A fascinating self sufficient place which could function entirely apart from the outside world.
Visiting the private quarters of the Dalai Lama was very sad , not much time was allowed to be in this room as there were many people visiting and making pilgrimages just to have a glimpse , of course his photos not allowed to be present . Some personal effects are still in place though.
It is forbidden in Tibet to have a photo of the current Dalai Lama and one could be arrested by the Chinese authorities if such a photo were found on a person.
The people of Tibet make many pilgrimages and watching them so ardently pray was very touching as they hope and pray that maybe one day there will be a change where they are free to be themselves once again.
No one ever approached us with any of these thoughts but all throughout Tibet there was a sense of something missing within the people , a longing for something more in their lives .
Everything seemed to be done for show , especially in Lhasa .
The last night in Lhasa again was a show , a cultural one which was full of colour ,music and singing that was very soulful
While the trip was an amazing one , leaving Tibet was done with great saddness as I had been touched by the gentleness of the people , their silent belief that things may get better for their beloved Dalai Lama who has been in exile for so many years.
The pilgrimages people made said it all !
I am sure all of us felt we were very blessed to have been able to make this trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa , a trip that will remain in our psyche forever for many reasons.
Yes! Of course we did.
By crossing the Brahamaputra River we finally came into Lhasa. Passing beautiful drawings on rock faces as we drove on the outskirts.
Please remember this is the Lhasa of 1999 and that was a whole 10years ago, so my view of Lhasa would be very different to what it is today.
From what I have heard about it of recent times , I am glad I made the journey when I did .
Looking back ,although I have travelled to many unusual places , I must say every time I think of this trip it takes my breath away. I am sure the group we went with would feel the same.
So much has happened in Tibet in the 10years past , maybe I would never recognise the places that I visited in Lhasa.
Outside Lhasa
We visited Potala Palace and just the walk up the cobble stones to the entrance was enough to leave you gasping for air . The city of Lhasa is at an altitude of 3,650metres.
The walk is rather a steep one and somewhat , a long walk from the street level to this towering building that overlooked the once very isolated city of Lhasa.
Again a very indescribable picture awaits the persons who enter this magnificent building and the home of the Dalai Lhama's of Tibet.
Potala Palace had been protected by Zhou Enlai during the Cultural Revolution of China, it is said that he sent his own troops to protect it.
We were very fortunate as apparently 4years prior to our visit the Poatala Palace had extensive renovations done to it.
Ther are many passages inside and various parts of the palace had chapels, teaching and training areas for religious education.
A fascinating self sufficient place which could function entirely apart from the outside world.
Visiting the private quarters of the Dalai Lama was very sad , not much time was allowed to be in this room as there were many people visiting and making pilgrimages just to have a glimpse , of course his photos not allowed to be present . Some personal effects are still in place though.
It is forbidden in Tibet to have a photo of the current Dalai Lama and one could be arrested by the Chinese authorities if such a photo were found on a person.
Pilgrims Visit
The people of Tibet make many pilgrimages and watching them so ardently pray was very touching as they hope and pray that maybe one day there will be a change where they are free to be themselves once again.
No one ever approached us with any of these thoughts but all throughout Tibet there was a sense of something missing within the people , a longing for something more in their lives .
Everything seemed to be done for show , especially in Lhasa .
The last night in Lhasa again was a show , a cultural one which was full of colour ,music and singing that was very soulful
While the trip was an amazing one , leaving Tibet was done with great saddness as I had been touched by the gentleness of the people , their silent belief that things may get better for their beloved Dalai Lama who has been in exile for so many years.
The pilgrimages people made said it all !
I am sure all of us felt we were very blessed to have been able to make this trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa , a trip that will remain in our psyche forever for many reasons.
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Comment by KateSk
on Death Awaits Us ...None Too Soon !
Solo Kat
I too have told the family , when I go it is Party Time!
I actually like the funeral celebrations of New Orleans , good Jazz music and a street celebration of some kind, great food and drink!
As to whether I want to be buried or cremated and my ashes turned into an angel that is mixed with concrete and sits in the garden ...not decided on that one yet .
Hopefully I still have time to make that last decision and write it down as a dying wish.