The next morning we set off at 8am to Shigatse. We passed by many scenic view points especially the Yamzhou Yumco Lake. It is one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet. Took many photos. Bought a necklace as well.
Lunch at Langkazi county. The restaurant we went to served good food.
Kharola Glacier
Mount Shimila with the reservoir
Site of resistance to British Aggression at Zhongshan
We were in some speed monitoring zones so sometimes drivers will stop at some ulu place just to kill time to avoid reaching too early. We managed to reach the police station of Shigatse at 515pm in time to process the permit for entering Mount Everest Basecamp. After the long wait, the guide finally got the permits secured. We checked in at a rather posh hotel to pamper ourselves. This hotel is way more comfortable than the one we stayed in Lhasa.
K managed to find a recommended tibetan restaurant not far from our hotel for dinner. Yum yum the tibetan pork chop I ordered was tasty. We took a cab back and enjoyed the forceful shower.
We set off same time the next day to Everest Base Camp.
Sky so blue. Never did any photoshop.
You know you have reached the mountain pass or scenic photographic point when you see this...
The real torture came after our lunch at Tingri. The road to Nepal was paved but the branch road to EBC was rocky 103km through snaky winding narrow unpaved dirt road. At the end of the journey we were all dead. We saw a falcon spreading its wings next to our car near the passport checkpoint but was too slow in taking the camera out. It flew away.
Four wheel drive is ok. Our van not so ok on bumpy road. 103km of bumpy road promise to throw away all appetite and aggravate high mountain sickness.
Cloud covered all scenic view. Otherwise can see many peaks from here.
Repairing motorcycle.
The winding road.
We had no luck with EBC, which wad cloudy from all the scenic view points along the way.
The tent that we stayed was tent no. 42. The tent was warmer than expected. Toilet was a short walk away but dont ask me about the clealiness.
Finally reached our tent. You can see the shag faces.
Once we settled down in our camps and proceed to the base camp, we could see the clouds drifting away and Mount Everest started to show its facet.
Mini bus sent us from the camp site to here, which is the base camp area.
Still covered by clouds.
Clouds slowly being blown off...
The sunset was beautiful. I made some new Hong Kong friends at the basecamp. We agreed to take pictures of starlit skies later. Friendly people three of them are. We went to buy postcards together at the China Post tent.
Sun set...
About 9pm...
Only me and R ate dinner as the rest has no appetite. Outside was very cold due to windchill. The night starry sky at EBC was brilliant, similar to what i had seen in Siam Reap last time. The hk friends joined Yh n me in our star gazing and capturing exercise.
The above photo taken by Yh.
The above photo taken by Yh.
Yh couldnt stood the cold and went back to the tent to sleep while I lingered for awhile more.
When I finally slept at 11pm, the tent owner Duoji kindly helped me prepare my bed. He taught me the proper way to lay the mattress so that I could snuggle in it. It was hard to contain the urge to pee so I went out of the tent to pee at 210am. Couldn't find torch light though. Lucky got handphone. It was pitch dark outside. I managed to find my way back to the tent only after some trial and error.
Had a rather good sleep. Woke up at 7 plus to wash up and took sunrise photos.
Everyone was eager to leave this place as they didn't sleep well. I bade farewell with the hk friends from tent no.10.
The legendery Rongbuk Monastery, which was near the camp site.
Please click here to go to the next destination, Kailash Mountain.
No comments:
Post a Comment