Back in Chengdu now after a week long group tour in Tibet.
The tour was surprisingly good, as far as those kind of things go - really good group of people on the tour, which is always the most important thing.
There are many things left in the world to see - but I don't think I have ever consciously thought "this is the best, most impressive thing I've ever seen".
I hope I see better, more impressive things in my life; but if I don't - I won't be so unhappy with that ;)
"The roof of the world" sounds like a terrible cliche until you actually see it - then you just end up thinking: "yeh, something like that".
Barley beer - thumbs up (everyone else hated it, I went back for more).
Altitude sickness - thumbs down (some poor barstards had it much worse though - fact: at 5000 metres you end up breathing roughly half as much oxygen with each breath).
Checkpoints - thumbs down (easily more than twenty times - five separate passport checks and two bag/body scans between the car park and the plane - and that was on the way out).
Pro-tip: do NOT lose your passport in Tibet, you won't be able to take a leak or scratch your arse without it.
Today was spent organising tours, drinking Guinness and scratching my arse (also, waiting for laundry).
Tomorrow I will see Pandas and giant buddhas.
Then, a couple of days cruising the mighty Yangzi gorges and then touring the damming thereof.
This post brought to you by Guinness "Foreign Extra" and the number 4.
It is now my considered opinion that the Himalayan region is one of the most interesting places on earth, and I want to see more. Who wants to rent a Royal Enfield and ride to Ladakh next year? Seriously.
