We boarded our second 24 hour train ride, this time to Lhasa! Our journey to the Himalayas had begun.
The train from Xining to Lhasa leaves in the evening so that the boring scenery passes by while you’re asleep, and when we woke up we were on the Tibetan plateau. The set-up was a cubby with 3 beds on each side. This time we were with our 2 Tibet travel companions and had the 6 beds to ourselves, so we could sit on the bottom during the day to play cards and eat, then retire to our respectable beds to sleep.
For me sleeping on a train isn’t very hard because 1. I don’t move around a lot in my sleep, and with only a skinny little bed I think that is a big factor, and 2. The movement of the train tends to lull me to sleep, and along with some David Gray to listen to I was out like a light. The problems began the next morning for me.
The train climbed to about 5,000 meters before dropping back down again to roughly 3,500 meters in Lhasa. The 4 of us in our ‘Tibet group’ started to feel slightly light headed, but my light headed-ness quickly turned into a migraine. Thinking all we needed was some food we all ate our Mr. Noodle style noodles, and a half hour later I suddenly ran to the toilet with a hair-tie. Away went all my noodles, but I felt instantly better. As soon as I got back to my bed the train started to descend and we all started to feel more human.
Departing from our train we were amazed at how modern the train station was. The train station (and railway to Lhasa) is only a few years old but it was still a strange thing to see in Tibet. The drive to our hostel through 6 lane streets with colourful lights flashing everywhere had us all a little wide eyed, but thankfully we passed all of that and entered the old Barkhor area which has a much more traditional feel. We entered the doors of Rama Kharpo Hostel (The White Goat), and after a cup of tea we didn’t move again until breakfast.
Those long train rides sound a bit difficult, especially with the elevation. Were you the only one to get a migraine Lianna? Remember Don & Marlene’s dog, Tucker – he was a Lhasa Apso – is that where that breed comes from? Try to stay warm! – Love Mom
Of course I remember Tucker! There are tons of Lhasa Apsos here.
are you guys passing on the card game dummy to your new friends??? lol…by the way the scenery looks so beautiful
How funny is this… I’m reading this thinking it’s nick typing and I get to the part where ur saying you ran to the bathroom with a hair tie and here I am thinking “how long is nicks hair???” lol… ahhhh
Hey!! I was over at your house today talking to your mom and she gave me this site and told me to check it out.. Holy Crap! lol I am insanely jelous! but very happy for you, this is an awsome thing your doing. I hope when I’m done with school I can experience the same thing you and Nick are doing! We’ll Im gonna end it here, its just been too long since weve spoken and I really hope you gimme a ring when your back in boring Brampton.. You know where to find me!
Steph
Hey thanks for reading! It is a great opportunity, traveling, but it’s much easier than you think! You just need to book that first flight out of Brampton! We’ll get together over some coffee when I get home for sure.
Hey Guys:
I remember when researching our dear Tucker, a Lhasa Apso, that their small size belied their “guard dog” capabilities and that they were used by the Tibetan monks inside the monastery (larger dogs were used outside). They were known as a “sentinel” dog and would bark to herald a visitor’s arrival. Suffice it to say that we did not choose Tucker for his “guard dog” capabilities (in fact, he didn’t even bark)! He did, however, have a deep bark when he chose to bark two or three times per year! It seems that he did not care for horses who used to go through our property! He didn’t even bark to get in or out (he would paw at the door). He taught this “trick” to Snickers, our cat, who also did not meow to get in and out.
Take care, Marlene