lhasa, tibet, china

different from beijing, being stuck in lhasa is a good thing.

I need to upload photos, but for the time being I just can't be bothered.

to fill you in, lhasa is at just under 12,000 ft. of altitude. it's in a valley in between two small ranges that are part of the himalayas. the valley has the lhasa river that rolls through it. unfortunately, there's a lot of chinese influence in lhasa, since they took over 50 years ago. The irony is that had china not taken over i wouldn't be here, along with all of my fellow travellers in this great city. i think the trick is to get out of lhasa and see the real tibetan countryside. unfortunately, about 5 months ago, some passionate Western protestors (probably similar to that of a typical Boulderite) decided it would be a good idea to set fire to chinese flags for their own personal 'free tibet' campaign. Not only did they fail to 'free tibet' from chinese rule (surprisingly china didn't have compassion for their cause), but they imprisoned foreigners from being able to travel tibet freely. I met some rad chinese people who wanted me to accompany them all the way around tibet in their jeep, seeing everything tibet has to offer, for dirt cheap (splitting gas and accomodation), but we discovered that it is 100% impossible for a foreigner to travel outside of lhasa without a certified guide. certified guide = mucho denero, which of course the prices sky-rocketed ever since the protestors caused a monopoly in the market for tibetan guides. i mean, perhaps they carried a good message, but a poor method. maybe they should get a degree in communications from an accredited texan university. but i digress.

yesterday i did a hike of one of the local mountains. I have never had so much trouble and exhaustion form a mountain. I was actually unable to peak the summit I was attempting, because of altitude and how much effort it took me to get to it (there are no trails, just some random cow trails). In the distance I saw some Tibetan 'cattle ranchers' gathering their cattle and driving them down into town. Walking around the Himalayas directing their cattle at 17,000 ft. with long sticks apparently is just another day at the office. Needless to say, I established my gaper status in the Himalayas, and am mentally and emotionally recovering from my first failed summit ever. The conditions were perfect, I just couldn't hang with going probably 3 or 4,000 feet than I have ever gone before. Fair enough.

I will leave for Kathmandu, Nepal soon. I cannot wait. Wu ai lhasa, and I hope to return someday- maybe when i have more money to pay someone who will drive me all around tibet.

peace friends.