Tibet Day 0, Arrival in Lhasa

After leaving home at 14h30 on Wednesday, we arrive in Tibet at 15h00 on Friday. Quite a journey, but arrival is eased being met by our local Tibetan guide Migmar (who worked with my inspiration, Michael Palin, who was, and remains, my virtual mentor - yet he doesn't know it). The sky is blue and I'm now at 3500m, the lack of oxygen is a little noticeable, or maybe that's the jet lag. Stairs will tell.

The new road from the airport drills its way into the mountain at the side of the wide river flood plane on which the airport sits, and on the other side, the terrain is similar in another valley floor. This road halves the journey time of the 60km from the airport to Lhasa. Along the road some of the mountains are dotted in prayer flag 'tents' clinging to the sides like limpets on upturned boat hulls. Shiny metal electricity pylons gleam in the sunshine almost shouting their arrival on the flat landscape.

First impressions of Lhasa are positive, it's clean, non-polluted unlike Kathmandu and the people are amazingly friendly. Electric scooters wizz up and down: silent but deadly, you need to look before crossing or even changing direction on the pavement.

The striking Potala Palace is the first landmark I see and justifies it reputation; we have a visit there tomorrow.

I meet the lads at the hotel: Steve, Danny, Alan-Alan, Aussie Alan, Aussie Chris, Christopher, Matt, Mick, Mark, Martin, Neil, Leader Alex and Vidya. This year we're sadly missing sleepy Hugo, no-tea-stop Gerard and Dr Duff, but have gained a few new faces (Simon, Keith and new Steve) who I'll meet soon and I'll ride with on this adventure with Nomadic Knights.

Dinner and a walk around a temple accompanying a throng of devotees. People are throwing themselves on the ground in prayer; I've seen it on TV, but it's more vivid live. More on that in future posts I would imagine.

Time for bed, after 48hrs I'm zonked, even if Ducky is not.


Sent from my trusty rusty BlackBerry