6.4.2007
There is our last day in Lhasa before we move on. I liked it here despite the bordello and anarchic local traffic, a constant hooting cacophony of motorcycles, cows, cars, and incongruous tiny ‘Fiat Panda’ taxis! Bulhar, (the busy crossing in Prague) is relatively similar – but only on those rare occasions when the traffic lights are not working! Unbelievably the system does seem to work however and I was reliably transported to a beautiful monastery close to the city. A Buddhist school, its austerity and discipline was immediately evident and seemed to permeate the very air of the compound. It was so serene and beautiful (and so photogenic that I’m already going to need to buy another one megabyte memory card!)
 Still recovering from last night - it was the real deal! At supper twelve (initially) silent and meditating Tibetan monks gradually drank through the language barrier until finally…we could communicate freely – as if, ‘in tongues’! In time-honored universal tradition, we adopted the system of proposing a toast to somebody (or something), taking care to maintain a spirit of conviviality and enthusiastically draining each successive glass to the dregs! The ‘Everest’ wine (said to be ‘Tibetan Grand Cru’ and reserved exclusively for the five women present) was certainly an acquired taste. I successfully downed it with no apparent (immediate) ill affects but the men were understandably happier to forsake the honor to sup their less select (and exacting) beer.
Next, stylish transportation, in the form of four expedition Land Rovers, took us in convoy to a non-conformist bar. A tourist haven, the lights strobed down on the (strictly same sex) disco dancers as the karaoke singers meted out Chinese and Tibetan versions of Britney Spears anthems...
Don’t ask me how it all ended. We sportsmen go to bed before midnight...!
Back |
