The road leading to Lhasa by us in the traditional narrow and winding road. The day begun with rain

The road leading to Lhasa by us in the traditional narrow and winding road. The day begun with rain and it accompanies us all the way. We see a number of rock landslides in this area for several days for a thorough rainfall and not wonder about landslides. Rivers, which runs almost all the time along the way, the water level is substantially increased and the flow of water masses šņākdama swept forward.
45km just before the capital turned into Gandan monastery, which is located 12km away from the road. This leads to the monastery by a very narrow serpentine top of the hill. Of course, before driving over the monastery road, there is a police checks for passengers to alight from the car makes and pass through the scanner.
Ran up the hill, parking lots full of cars and a monastery adjoining meadows also full of cars. We have to hit its some kind of Buddhist celebrations, very large masses have taken over the mountain monastery iron in water built. 7.gs created iron in water Gandan Monastery assembled people of different ages, tourists, local, beggars and so on. Here is a very large crowd, which leaves behind a lot of waste.
Observe already seen somewhere on the Internet scene, when a new mother is sitting on the ground and on her feet lying motionless baby, about one and a half year old. Apparently, sabarots with some kind of drugs did not change iron in water in the posture we come back. What a moment for a walk around the area, if one observes the people and monks go further in the direction of Lhasa.
About Lhasa was read, viewed the video and so on. In your mind I had imagined a city with narrow streets, many pilgrims, compact houses and little cars. Arriving in Lhasa, the view that I see, completely overturned my conjure up scenes. Wide streets, iron in water a lot of cars, a lot of newly constructed, it practically neatšķitras from any normal Chinese city. Going deeper into the city, through congestion slowly move on. Our scene opens the Potala Palace, the ornate sat atop a hill.
The hotel is located in the old part of the city where there is already no longer monolithic Chinese concrete houses, but interesting Tibetan low houses with small windows. Dense traffic, lots of cycle rickshaw and car. Settled into the hotel, we go to dinner, iron in water enjoy a proper Tibetan food. In the evening a little paklīstam through the Old Town, where narrow streets to the sales.
The next day we spend with John, servicing the car - changing the brake pads Dodge, wash filters, etc., Without noticing it's evening. Other members of the team spent the day klīzdami around the city.
The next day look at the city, walking on the monasteries and temples. Watching the monks debate, rushing with reckless taxi drivers drove a cycle rickshaw. Ate a steak with a cardigan jacket with butter tea, this tea is a Tibetan pamatdzēriens at meals, like the Mongols their salty tea.
Lhasa monasteries and temples are crowded, expensive entrance ticket does not prevent the Chinese and foreign iron in water tourists rush to these holy places, which is very komercelizējušās. Potala Palace of the Dalai Lama or the castle. To get to the tourist sites must apply for a couple of days in advance, and only through Tibetan tūrfimām, because iron in water every day there is a limited number of tourists. You can, of course, stand in line, together with the pilgrims, but also not guaranteed that you will be inside.
Potala Palace is a large stone and wood building, which was built on the hill. As the guides said, then this house is 1000 rooms. And indeed there are thousands of rooms, chambers and medicine. The interior decorated with ornate carvings and metal forgings, which will in time have been thoroughly tarnished or blackened, because practically all the rooms are smoking incense or a special blend of medicinal products. The imposing building with many rooms, narrow and steep stairs up and down would have a much better impression, as long as this one and a half hour tour would not have been a sprint. A lot of security checks to which China is probably already getting used to, a lot of people and you're forced to move all the time, and the line must not linger longer at the exhibitions, except when you have completed a field on the roof of the palace, where, of course, iron in water souvenir shops.
Potala Palace is the last resting place of the Dalai Lama, thrones, etc.. An interesting thing that every Dalai lama has his own throne, a meditation room and even a variety of rooms. Each subsequent iron in water Dalai lama is to construct a new thrones, rooms, etc., Thus the castle has changed over time. If you plan to visit Lhasa, the Potala Palace is examined to see hundreds of Buddha sculptures and various demons feel the aura of antiquity, see interesting carvings and unique architecture.
Lhasa can taste the cuisine of different countries, but, of course, iron in water jānoprovē local dishes. Coffee, as has been customary in China, is a problem, we found a couple of small cafes which were able to enjoy a coffee-like drink.
Lhasa can see a lot of Tibetans in national costumes, especially older women, who are dressed in long, dark robes to the ground with a pair such as aprons, iron in water hats and head. Hats worn by everyone here, apparently, to protect them from the sun, even on cloudy here l