Lhasa

Lhasa is gorgeous. Not only does it have beautiful monsteries, interesting markets and back streets, but it is also filled with pilgrims from all over Tibet, many of whom have prostrated hundreds of miles to get here. Lhasa also has pizza, bread and cheese in abundance (although of varying quality). Our first day was spent in a variety of queues in order to get tickets to the Potala Palace. It was well worth it. Once you have recovered from climbing all the stairs, you wander through a labyrinth of rooms, filled with statues, thrones and gold tombs. Today we did the pilgrimage circuit which involved a lot of shuffling and prayer wheel turning. Hermann got a bit bored with the shuffling around, but persevered because it is character building. Our hotel is lovely, although we have a resident mouse who has been keeping us awake. We've been trying to surprise it by flicking the light switches on really quickly, but so far it has eluded capture. This is our last night in Lhasa, so in proper Bhuddist tradition we may take pity on it and leave it a little treat.