On July 10, dad and I went on a trip to Tibet with friends, Mike and Becky Graham. It was an amazing and memorable experience.
We flew to Lhasa and our guide, Tsering, and driver, Purpu, met us and took us to our hotel in the old part of Lhasa.
We flew to Lhasa and our guide, Tsering, and driver, Purpu, met us and took us to our hotel in the old part of Lhasa.
We needed to rest and adjust to the high altitude of 12,000 feet before we started any sightseeing. Our room was decorated in the bright colored style of Tibet.
Just climbing the stairs took our breath away. We had to go slow and stop about every third step just to take deep slow breaths. We were also warned to wear lots of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays.
July 11. In the morning we walked around Barckor Street market. It was very close to our hotel. There were street stalls and small shops selling everything you could imagine.
Just around the block from our hotel was the oldest temple in Lhasa, the Jorhkang Monastery.
This woman is pouring holy water on her head.
It is a Buddahist temple with monks in attendance. In the morning and in the late afternoon people come to the temple to pray and give their devotions.
It is tradition to walk clockwise in large circle around the temple and spin their prayer wheels. It is an amazing sight to see people of all ages showing their devotion to their ancient beliefs.
The people are so weatherworn and work so hard at just living. The faces of the people told so much about their lives.
That afternoon we visited the beautiful Potala Palace. It is high on a hillside towards the edge of town. It originally was a monastery and palace for the Dali Lama. It has been taken over by the government and is now a tourist area.
The native Tibetans still consider it as a holy shrine because it contains stupa tombs of several Lamas. We climbed 500+ steps in the heat to get inside at our assigned time.
We learned that yaks are a very important part of Tibetan life. They provide meat, milk, cheese, butter, oil, clothing, tents, transportation, and fuel. They survive in the high altitude and harsh climate of Tibet.
The hills and mountains are stark and almost bare of vegetation.
One thing about Tibet .... the kids are adorable.
Adults of all ages love their children.
One thing we won't forget is the people ....
.... of Tibet.
July 11. In the morning we walked around Barckor Street market. It was very close to our hotel. There were street stalls and small shops selling everything you could imagine.
Just around the block from our hotel was the oldest temple in Lhasa, the Jorhkang Monastery.
This woman is pouring holy water on her head. It is a Buddahist temple with monks in attendance. In the morning and in the late afternoon people come to the temple to pray and give their devotions.
It is tradition to walk clockwise in large circle around the temple and spin their prayer wheels. It is an amazing sight to see people of all ages showing their devotion to their ancient beliefs.
The people are so weatherworn and work so hard at just living. The faces of the people told so much about their lives.
That afternoon we visited the beautiful Potala Palace. It is high on a hillside towards the edge of town. It originally was a monastery and palace for the Dali Lama. It has been taken over by the government and is now a tourist area.
The native Tibetans still consider it as a holy shrine because it contains stupa tombs of several Lamas. We climbed 500+ steps in the heat to get inside at our assigned time. 
We learned that yaks are a very important part of Tibetan life. They provide meat, milk, cheese, butter, oil, clothing, tents, transportation, and fuel. They survive in the high altitude and harsh climate of Tibet.
The hills and mountains are stark and almost bare of vegetation.
One thing about Tibet .... the kids are adorable.
Adults of all ages love their children.
One thing we won't forget is the people ....
.... of Tibet.
