Day 8: Lhasa and the Potala Palace

It goes really well with the altitude. Our oxygen saturation is around 95% again, we are very happy. And so we are in good spirits for the ascent today to the Potala Palace. From 1642 to 1959 it was the official residence and seat of government of the Dalai Lamas, although the massive structure is a small world of its own. It was built in the 7th century by the 33rd ruler of his dynasty, King Songtsen Gangpo, but is still in surprisingly good condition thanks to continuous renovation work. The palace is located on the mountain Marpori, which rises 130 meters above Lhasa. Since 1994 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We approached the ascent over 100 meters in altitude slowly and mastered it very well.

The rooms we were allowed to see with all the pilgrims were more than impressive. Here, as in all other temples, photography is not allowed. You can hardly put it into words. The gilded Buddha Maitreya (China) or Jiawaqiangba (Tibet) moves Sylvia again very deeply. Then the magnificent gifts that are kept here. The chambers of the Dalai Lamas protected behind curtains. The stubas of the deceased Dalai Lamas, then the mandalas images of the cosmos. The handmade Buddha statues and frescoes.

Back down (the many stairs go down again at the back), we first go for coffee. The Summit Café was the first in Lhasa 20 years ago. We stroll a bit in the old town and Sylvia buys stones.

The Jokhang Temple is just around the corner. The most popular pilgrimage destination of the Tibetans. It is populated with many praying Tibetans. Many also throw themselves on the ground several times in a row. We walk clockwise around the temple and move the prayer wheels. So, now we go in. Oh dear, that’s a lot of people. Praying as well as tourists. Slowly we find that the temples are very similar, but we are not professionals in Buddhism at all. Now we stop at a Tibetan tea house and there is sweetened milk tea.

When we arrived at the hotel, we made a WhatsApp status of the Potala Temple. Suddenly I get a message from a former work colleague if we are also in Lhasa. Also??? Is that what they mean??? And so we met in a rooftop bar and chatted for 1.5 hours. That was really cool. Hopefully we will meet their parents again in Hong Kong.