Mandala Hotel

Hi All,

  This morning our guide Lobsang picked us up at 8 am with a van and driver for a tour along the Lhasa River and up into the mountains to the Ganden Monastery.It was an absolutely beautiful drive and the monastery was quite picturesque and interesting with a long and sad history in modern times.  I took loads of photos and eventually you’ll get to see them.  This afternoon Randal and I shared a Yak burger and cucumber salad for lunch on the roof top dining area of the Mandal Restaurant with lovely views of the surrounding mountains and the Chinese soldiers on the roof top across the way.  The Yak burger was quite good and the bun that it was served on was wonderful bread.  They do great bread here in Lhasa.

Tomorrow we’re going off to the Potala Palace which I don’t know enough about to write about now.

So far I’m most intrigued with the older Tibetan women and the beautiful mountain scenery.

By the way, Lhasa City is at an altitude of 12,000 feet above sea level.

Ru