We arrived into Lhasa after a 53 hours train ride, and over the high Tibetan plateau.
Day 3 - Lhasa
With a 'hangover' of an altitude problem, it was directly to the hotel.
We checked in, requested for 2 oxygen-tanks, onto the bed and ordered in dinner. We also purchased cans of oxygen canisters.
Day 4
We had an early breakfast, and I felt slightly better. However, I still loaded the oxygen cannister into the car. Our first stop was the square and park in front of Potala Palace.
The Potala Palace
There is a summer and winter palace. During the peak period, travellers could visit either the summer or winter palace. For us who visited in November (winter season), we could visit both the summer and winter palaces.
Cameras and video were disallowed. The compound were huge as we walked through the myraids of rooms and sections.
The palace complexes are huge. We were led through the myraid of rooms, with display of treasured artifacts and praying monks.
After about two hours of touring the palaces, we exited the palace.
We walked along the main street bordering the palace to a Nepali Restaurant.
The lunch was reasonable and tasty. 😋
Jokhang Temple
It is one of the most important relighious sites and also another UNESCO world cultural heritage site.
Near the main gate, there are pilgrims prostrating in the front of the Temple. We toured the temple and the courtyard.
Since the hotel was near to the temple, we walked back to the hotel. We ordered in our dinner.
we were to fly back to Guangzhou on a direct flight on Day4 morning. We decided to check for the possibility of flying back to Guangzhou on Day 3 evening.
[There was no arranged acitivity on Day 3 evening. Thus, I would probably be breathing 'canned oxygen' even if there's no more headache?! 😐😏]
Day 5
I was hesitant to go to Yamdrok Lake as it was situated over 4000m. However, we were feeling rather 'normal'. We loaded the hotel's oxygen cannister [similar to those used in hospital(?)], and set off after breakfast.
We drove via the Gampala Pass, and had a brief stop after two hours of driving. There were tibetian mastiff, yaks and mini-sheep(/goat?) for photo-taking.
We continued driving for another hour before we reached the lake.
Yamdrok Lake
It is one of the largest freshwater lake with an area of 638 square km, and one of the four holy lakes in Tibet.
The sky was clear with my favorite blue, the lake water was clear and glistering from the sun reflection. The lake stretched to the farthest surrounded by the mountians . It was a mesmerizing sight [For all the worries about altitude problem at around 5000m, it was worth the risk... 😑😍]
Then we drove back to the Number One viewing point to see the lake.
The Number One viewing point was the highest point at 4998m. A 4-wheel set-up a pop-up business for tourists who were keen to sing. [Not me, for sure]
Then we drove back to Lhasa , had our lunch before going to the airport.
Back in Guangzhou
We arrived at Guangzhou late at night and all traces of altitude problem has disappeared 😀.
We spent the weekend walking the city and eating.
I enjoyed the rail, Tibet and Guangzhou relaxing walkaround before flying home.
Our trip
We booked a tour that included the application of the Tibet visa.
Thoughts
I am glad that at long last I took the train to Tibet and also visited Lhasa. I had always been wary about altitude problem as I am very much prone to it.
Will I go to Tibet again? I will really need to consider carefully any places above 4000m. 😉