Our first stop is NorbuglinKa, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. There are actually several palaces on this site, built by different Dalai Lamas. The first one was built in the 1700’s. I wish I could have taken pictures on the inside, but that is not allowed.
Pavillions by the summer palace of the 8th Dalai Lama:
The summer palace built for the 14th (and current) Dalai Lama. This is where he escaped from in disguise in 1959 and has been in exile every since.
All of the doors in the palaces have this kind of braided handle. The five colors are to represent the five elements.
This entryway is an indication of the colors and design of the interiors:
Next stop is the Tibet Museum. Aaron and I are becoming extremely educated on this trip. It was interesting learning the history of the Tibetan people, while at the same time seeing the influence of China on Tibet e.g. the welcome board that says how the Tibetan culture has been preserved under the "correct leadership" of the socialist regine.
Our next stop is lunch. Who comes up to our table to see us? Liueea from the train! His mother and he are at the table next to us with their father, whom they came to visit.
The place is near the restaurant. Coming to your neighborhood soon? Mmmm, I don't think so.
Our final stop for the day is the famous Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Pictures can’t do it justice. It was begun in the 7th century and has over a thousand rooms. The artistry of the interior is amazing. Definitely, click to see this larger.
We climbed all of the steps to the very top. At this altitude, having been here less than 24 hours, it’s a killer. But slow and steady, we make it fine.
The view from midway up the steps:
After seeing many, many rooms of the palace, we head back to the hotel for a much needed break at about 3:00 p.m. I’d like to go out in the street and take some photos, but I can’t make my body get off the bed.
We are picked up and taken to dinner at the same place we ate lunch. Upon returning, we catch a little more of the sports on television we don’t see much at home: Badminton, Handball (the kind that is a combination of soccer, basketball, and rugby), and Target Shooting. Within an hour or two, we are both, with the lights and television still on, passed out.
We are picked up and taken to dinner at the same place we ate lunch. Upon returning, we catch a little more of the sports on television we don’t see much at home: Badminton, Handball (the kind that is a combination of soccer, basketball, and rugby), and Target Shooting. Within an hour or two, we are both, with the lights and television still on, passed out.
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