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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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 Posted:
May 17, 2007 - 10:01 AM |
 
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| Post subject: t¡bet - to go, or not? |
Looking for advice from people who went recently.
Heard so many mixed-comments about it, especially from people who also went to Western-Sichuan/Gansu (x¡ªhe and the likes) saying that they found there what they expected to experience in t¡bet.
Is Lhassa really just a dump and regular Chinese city apart from the pοta⌊a area? More Han there than natives?
What to do and see there to make the trip worthwile?
Any comment appreciated.
b. |
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travelinjack3
FooJay
Joined: Sep 19, 2005
Posts: 1718
Location: Right Bank
Status: Offline
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May 17, 2007 - 11:03 AM |
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My friend says forget Lhasa and t¡bet and go to Nepal. |
_________________
If the billy goat was Bootsie and the troll was Maceo, then only the Godfather of Soul can really take you to the bridge. |
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bleucheese
Veejay
Joined: Aug 01, 2003
Posts: 1993
Location: this side of the tracks
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May 17, 2007 - 11:51 AM |
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^ ive also heard that from people who have visited both. nepal is still on the list.
even though i was only there for 3 days, i thought lhasa was worth it.
went in late october 2003 when it was freezing and even then it was quite touristy.
the pοta⌊a palace and barkor circuit were amazing. we also did a day trip to a nearby monastary whose name escapes me.
the encroaching 'chinese' part of town is worrisome. you can literally look down the street and on one side you see traditional t¡betan architecture and decorations while on the other you see sprawling multi-storied KTV joints and neon covered buildings.
pm me if you want a link to some me-as-an-obnoxious-tourist pictures.
one more thing- the altitude sickness was a real surprise. be ready for the constant migraines and nausea. one woman i went with was bedridden the entire 3 days. |
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zahra
Squeeker
Joined: Apr 26, 2005
Posts: 17
Status: Offline
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May 17, 2007 - 12:10 PM |
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It's definitely worth going. Went there during this May holiday and had a great time. Stayed in Lhasa for 3 days to get used to the altitude. The main attraction was going to Mount Everest Base Camp, which was just awesome, so if you decide to go, that's the place to see! Lhasa was ok, I somehow liked Shigatse a lot, even though many would say there is nothing there. t¡betans are such a nice people, it was good to get out of Shanghai and experience it all.
I think I appreciate my life more after this trip;-)
PM me if you need any further info, I have a good contact for t¡betan travel guide. |
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lancesidecar
FooJay
Joined: Jan 07, 2005
Posts: 1631
Location: Hitsville, PRC
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May 17, 2007 - 12:21 PM |
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Kathmandu is just as easy to get to. Royal Nepal has two direct flights every week from Shanghai. I think Sundays and Tuesdays......... |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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May 17, 2007 - 03:38 PM |
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You should go before it's completely destroyed. |
_________________
Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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May 17, 2007 - 05:35 PM |
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Thanks for the comments and keep them coming, especially on where to go/what to avoid.
bleucheese: altitude? 3650m should be quite ok, no??? Anyway, sure, let's see this link!
travelinjack3: Nepal? Unfortunately, not part of the program. I would be joining a few people on this trip.
zahra: empty spaces do it for me.
b. |
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tanchean
Talker
Joined: Nov 25, 2005
Posts: 107
Location: Jingan
Status: Offline
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May 17, 2007 - 06:07 PM |
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Was also there for part of the May holidays. Do not dismiss the 3650m, especially if you fly directly into Lhasa from Shanghai - the altitude sickness will hit everyone, at the very least, a bad first night of sleep and a bad headache the next day. Also, count on catching your breath climbing up the stairs of the pοta⌊a!
Besides the usual places in Lhasa (Barkhor Square has quite an atmosphere), let yourself get lost in the old part of the city - the sounds (and smells) are fantastic.
Lake Namtso is a full day out and definitely worth it - make sure you do the kora (walk) up the mountain and down the other side of the mountain away from the tourists.
Ganden Monastery is also amazing - a good half day away from Lhasa and again, don't miss the (relatively easy) kora around the monastery after. Breathtaking views along the whole walk.
Wear good walking shoes and the weather this time of year is perfect!
If you do take the train (we took all of 2 days from Shanghai), try to fly to Xining or Golmund and join the train from there - saves you the first day of travelling where the scenes outside is not as amazing as going up the plateau. (Note that the trains only have cabins for 4 in the soft sleeper section and NO showers. Also, plan to pack food/ snacks as the resto car is always smoke-filled with train attendants (ironically) notwithstanding the non-smoking signs).
All in all, great way to get out of Shanghai! |
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bleucheese
Veejay
Joined: Aug 01, 2003
Posts: 1993
Location: this side of the tracks
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May 17, 2007 - 07:04 PM |
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| Quote: |
| bleucheese: altitude? 3650m should be quite ok, no??? |
i work out 4-5 days a week, i dont smoke tobacco, and i have a high threshold for pain. nevertheless, i was VERY uncomfortable for 2 of the 3 days....nauseous and a consistent low-grade headache. it didnt stop me from enjoying the place though.
2 weeks before we left my female colleague starting taking these little red TCM pills that supposedly helped with altitude sickness: they did nothing. she vomited more than once a day and spent the entire trip laying down in the back of the 4x4 we rented.
i think it affects everyone differently.
| Quote: |
| Anyway, sure, let's see this link! |
in your pm box |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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May 17, 2007 - 09:35 PM |
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Thanks bleucheese. Got the point on the altitude 
Tanchean: thanks. I like your koras plans. It would probably be a fly-in Lhassa, which probably doesnt help which getting progressively used to altitude.
b. |
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2.17AM
Squeeker
Joined: Apr 22, 2007
Posts: 15
Location: pudong, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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May 17, 2007 - 11:52 PM |
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Absolutly, t¡bet is a good place worth visiting, it depend on how many days do you have.
I had 21 days trip in Oct of 2005, spend 7 days in the road from Chengdu to Lhassa by cross-country car, the view is amzing, but most of them are same with the view of Sichuan and Yunnan, I would choose the train from Xining to Lhssa next time.
Spend one week in Lhassa, had great time in SERA MONASTERY, Jokhang Temple Monastery.... pοta⌊a Palace is good, but I like the plaza in front of it more, NAMTSO LAKE is one of the most gorgeous places you can't missing.... sigh, I miss it.
Our original plan is to go Everest Bse Camp then back shanghai, while when arrived Lhassa, we changed mind, got a car to Nepal directly, which took us one day from Lhassa to Kathmandu, the next was 1 weeks' relaxing time in Thamel, that would be another long story, have to stop myself here.
Anyway, go to t¡bet as soon as possible, as it's easier to get there by train now, more and more local culture and architecture will get lost soon, go and have a look with your own eyes.
For altitude sickness, didfferent ppl have different reflection, we took red TCM pills one week before left shanghai, I got one night headache and other ppl felt different way. Especilly you will take the flight to Lhassa, be careful all the time, take medicine and have rest if any uncomfortable....
Hope you have memorable time there! |
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2.17AM
Squeeker
Joined: Apr 22, 2007
Posts: 15
Location: pudong, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
May 17, 2007 - 11:52 PM |
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Absolutly, t¡bet is a good place worth visiting, it depend on how many days do you have.
I had 21 days trip in Oct of 2005, spend 7 days in the road from Chengdu to Lhassa by cross-country car, the view is amzing, but most of them are same with the view of Sichuan and Yunnan, I would choose the train from Xining to Lhssa next time.
Spend one week in Lhassa, had great time in SERA MONASTERY, Jokhang Temple Monastery.... pοta⌊a Palace is good, but I like the plaza in front of it more, NAMTSO LAKE is one of the most gorgeous places you can't missing.... sigh, I miss it.
Our original plan is to go Everest Bse Camp then back shanghai, while when arrived Lhassa, we changed mind, got a car to Nepal directly, which took us one day from Lhassa to Kathmandu, the next was 1 weeks' relaxing time in Thamel, that would be another long story, have to stop myself here.
Anyway, go to t¡bet as soon as possible, as it's easier to get there by train now, more and more local culture and architecture will get lost soon, go and have a look with your own eyes.
For altitude sickness, didfferent ppl have different reflection, we took red TCM pills one week before left shanghai, I got one night headache and other ppl felt different way. Especilly you will take the flight to Lhassa, be careful all the time, take medicine and have rest if any uncomfortable....
Hope you have memorable time there! |
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