Lhasa holiday

Kathmandu - Lhasa - Shigatse - Shegar - Base Camp

We had a leisurely start to the expedition with time to recover from work-long flights in Kathmandu and a holiday sightseeing in Lhasa.

30 Aug-1 Sept Kathmandu 1350m

We had two full days in Kathmandu for sorting gear and buying the last things such as cheap but good Kathmandu-made down suits and Millet Everest boots. There was time to get a feel for Kathmandu and some good food as well. We carefully planned our approach to acclimatizing for Lhasa, a big gain in altitude.

The guide-assisted team, L-R: Hans Hurvig (Denmark), Clive Jones (New Zealand), Walter Stockinger (Austria) and Jamie (New Zealand) having a tasty Thai meal at Yin Yang Restaurant, Thamel.

2-4 Sept Lhasa ~3600m

I love Lhasa, at least the old Tibetan part of town, which we stayed very near. The Potala really should be one of the seven wonders of the world. We were also lucky to get a tour thru it as a week previously the rules changed and it is far more difficult to get in. Nawang, our Tibetan guide, gave us a good insight here.

Nawang: he was handling up to five groups at once and so was rather stressed at times,
but with our team everything went well enough. (F4, 1/20th with image stabilization)

I (Jamie) also have a new camera, a Canon 5D and a 24-105mm lens. Lhasa was the first chance to try it out. I am so happy with the system and now can't make excuses about the camera. My old Nikon Coolpix 8400 with a built-in 24-85mm lens is still one of the best compact cameras but the 5D with its sharp optical viewfinder and simple but thorough controls takes me back to using a film-like SLR, except it is FAR better, even. Reasons later.

The Potala from our hotel room, morning light

and at night...

A young pilgrim who has been prostrating his way around the Jokhang, the holiest gompa (temple) in Lhasa.

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