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We were flying Air China from Beijing to Lhasa. The journey involved a stopover The journey lasted 5 hours involving a stopover ?Tibet was hard to access but this situation has been changed since the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet highland track. Now train service has conveniently linked this geographically isolated region with other part of China. Failure in obtaining train tickets had made us choose a flight.

Lhasa was much greener and more comfortable than I had imagined. At first, it blew my mind how dry the land might be. It was October but still summer here. The weather was fairy good, neither too hot nor too cold and everything was in bloom.. Lhasa has been interesting. Mornings here were interestingly, before the tourists and the touts flourish, locals made their way around, some doing circuits of pilgrimage, others setting up shops... Smoky fires blossomed, courtyards were busy with washings at communal pumps, bakers rolled and patted what would become rounds of bread or steamed rolls, children played on their way to schools.

We have spent the first few days doing nothing except strolling around the streets. The streets were narrow with lots peddlers selling everything from vegetables to Tibetan prayer wheels, horns and flags, and even blenders.. There were lots of pilgrims with their prayer wheels in their traditional dress. We spent 1 day touring the Potala Palace. Perched upon the Marpo Ri Hill, the palace was said to be the largest monumental structure in Tibet. It was fascinating with all the walls gorgeously paintings. Two chapels with Buddha sculptures, paintings and the previous Dalai Lama's tomb were found there.

When in china, what was most enjoyable was the friendliness of the Chinese people. The Tibetans were always friendly to tourists. Small kids playing in ?street were ready for help all the time. But few of them know English. My friend wanted to have a ?talk with a young girl who stared at her for seconds But the tilt of head and raise of eyebrow suggested she was not understood. In Lhasa, you are constantly greeted with the most beautiful smiles. On the first day we were just walking and stumbled on a small room with a huge prayer wheel, at least 12' tall and 6' in diameter. As we stood there watching, amazed at all the activities held, one of the monks beckoned us to join in. So I did or at least tried to. The older female pilgrim made room for me space. The floor was slippery but the speed they were walking and spinning the wheel was amazing. After about 5 turns I was starting to feel dizzy and definitely felt like I was holding them up. But the beautiful smiles were among the 10-12 people spinning the wheel as we left.

Shigatse was said to be another fascinating place in Tibet so we went. We took a bus to Shigatse and spent several days there which allowed us to tour the town and enjoy the monastery. e.

Our Tibet tour was fantastic and of course unforgettable. My friend and I are now planning another china trip, Tibet surely be included again, if possible.