At least it's something different - 7 October 2008

This morning there was no cold water in the hotel. While it's different from the usual no hot water, it's effectively as bad (if not worse, since you can't brush your teeth or flush the toilet without cold water).

Today we went to visit the fort above Giantse (Ooh, isn't transliteration fun - try Gyantse). Although it's juvenile (and I know their English is better than my Chinese) I just can't resist posting this:


Really? It's dangerous so I should take a devious route? And I left my ninja gear in my bag at the hotel! Worry not, though, it will make an appearance later.

The fort also has the first staircase I've ever seen with a false summit. I figured that if I kept up with Mil up to the first landing that she'd relent and give us all a break, but she just kept on trudging. When it comes to climbing, she's just a machine.

Here we are, going down the staircase:


And since I don't think that fully captures it, here's a picture of the staircase from the town:

Afterward, we visited the Kumbum, whose name (we were told) menas 10,000 rooms. You have to pay to take pictures in there - so no pics for you.

Then we all loaded back into the land rovers, only to stop at a barley mill for no apparent reason other than to be extorted for tips. Literally, the guy yelled "TIPS!" at us as we were leaving. Good times.

Finally we made it to Shigatse, where one of us got an unfortunate lesson about western food in China. He ordered a pizza, which he got after everyone else had almost finished their meal. Not only that, but it was tiny - I mean smaller than an individual pizza, and the most expensive thing on the menu.