Beyond Himalya: Lhasa

Lhasa, 3650metres, 7-8 December

-Another scenic day, largely due to the Yamdroke Lake along which we drove for hours. At every turning and every bend, the lake looked more picturesque as it did from higher and higher elevations. In my view, the lake is more beautiful than Gokyo lake in Nepal.

-Lhasa is a populous town and, surprising for a place steeped in Buddhism, had its own Muslim community. Muha went to their mosque for prayers.

-We had one of the cheapest, and best, meals just outside our hotel, where street vendors deep-fried all sorts of meat, mushroom, cauliflower, and potatoes and served them in kievs. We tried all!

-We visited Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas. It rises up to more than a hundred metres, spanning 13 stories. Constructed of stone and timber with golden roofs, it is the most famous architectural work in Tibet.