August 22, 2007
This morning, our Tibetan guide told us he planned a trip for us outside the city, so we set out on an adventure beyond Lhasa. The highway was a two-lane paved road in the valley, passing along tall mountains. Farmers moved a herd of cows off the road below:
The driver of our van had to obtain a pass from the Chinese government to drive on the highway. He had to tell the authorities who was in the van and where we were going.
Drivers have to maintain the speed limit and arrive at a designated place at the right time and check in.
Yak grazed at the side of the road:
We arrived at the natural hot spring and found major construction. We walked past the worksite to an indoor pool where people were enjoying a warm soak.
No, we did not us the roadside facilities:
Afterwards, we stopped at a small village nearby:
The driver parked the van. Then he and our guide left and crossed the street to join a group of people circled around a freshly slaughtered yak.
They chatted for a while; negotiated a price and quantity. Then the butcher weighed the meat on a primitive scale and put the meat in a plastic bag. The two men happily rejoined us in the van and we all returned to Lhasa.
Beautiful countryside of Tibet:
Back in the capital city, we had a good supper.
What an interesting day!