Lhasa

Noelle writes:

Sorry photos will have to follow as I can't seem to upload any at the moment.

Wow Lhasa is amazing! A lot of people thought we were crazy for wanting to go to Tibet in January but I have to say that I think it is probably the best time to be here in Lhasa. There are hardly any tourists, Western or Chinese, and the place is filled with Tibetan pilgrims from the countryside.

The following are some scenes from the Johang Temple in the centre of Lhasa.

Potala Palace

Drepung Monastery which is the largest monastery in Tibet and possibly the world. It recently housed a few thousand monks but after the protests of March 2008 it now houses a mere 500, the rest are in prison.

Since the protests last March the military is apparent all over the city (on every street corner) and in all of the tourist attractions. Even on the roof as seen in this photo.

We begin our overland adventure to the Nepal border tomorrow.