Train from Chengdu to Lhasa 2-4 Jun and Lhasa 5 Jun 2013

44hrs.

3360km.

8 stopping stations.

4 different provinces.

5068m highest altitude.

960 kilometers of this railway lies at 4,000 meters above sea level










Landed punctually at 525pm. Spent 5 Rmb to change train tix to Lhasa at the railway counter inside the airport. The driver sent us to the Chengdu train station by using the new ring road, which only open 3 days ago.

There was a railway lounge inside the station exclusively for holders of soft sleepers ticket. We had our dinners and bought all the necessities from the shops inside the railway station.

We started boarding at 825pm.



Need to carry luggage up and down the staircases from the lounge to platform 3 where the train was. Found car no.6 and went up the cabin.





The aircond was not turned on yet so it was very warm inside. The local passengers inside the hard seat coaches all took off their shirts in the fourty plus degree temperature oven.



Once the cold air streamed in, it was quite comfortable snugging inside the blanket. The mattress felt a bit hard so I put my blanket below to cushion. Slowly slept away.

Woke up at 6am due to the urge to pee. Just in time to capture the sun rise.



The train stopped at Baoji station 8.08am. Many stalls selling noodles and chicken drum sticks waiting at the platform for buyers. The train reversed direction at Baoji.



Silly me finally realised there is a green button inside the toilet meant for flushing. Ordered the lunch set advertised by the train attendant at 25 rmb, Richard took the 35rmb one, with soup included.



Altitudes of the route keep changing, as the altitudemeter on Richard's G-shock showed.

There were two toilets at each end of the coach, one sitting one squating. Separate washing basins were outside the squating toilet. Toilet seats cover were provided in seating toilet but were normally quickly snapped up. Sometimes one had to wait for sometime in order to use the toilet. There was once the little girl before me peed on the floor cos she couldnt hold it. The sitting toilet in our cabin became flooded after awhile due to chokage.





After Xining, altitude slowly climbing to 3800m. Scenery of Tibet slowly unfolded in front of our eyes. Very soon we were near Qinghai lake.












Things tended to be bloated. The photo above was taken by K.

Sunset added hues on the rolling mountains. We had a feast of instant noodles with hong shao rou and sausages. Yum yum. I had two cups of noodles. The sun set completely at around 9ish.


The photo above was taken using K's camera.









Half way through sleep, I woke up due to thirsty and wanted to pee. My eyes slowly adjusted to the night sky outside. The stars were brilliantly displayed on the whole sky.

When I next woke up at 630, sun already slowly rose. I quickly snap away. It was near ???. R woke up and found that his saline solution that he left on top of the tv set went missing. He was looking for it up and down and half an hour later found it in his backpack. Yonghua woke up at this time and claimed that he had headache at around ten plus, which sc also felt. Sc went hungry in the middle of the night and popped some bread cos he felt hungry. We were surprised cos he had a big bowl of cup noodle during dinner time.















I found this mountain very evilish look haha.

Is it really June???

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Felt good about myself for buying these few things: the dslr which allowed me to zoom far away on the snow capped mountain far away. The second item was the 4.50 mug I bought on the departure day itself which allow me to make milo. An item I wish I have will be my down jacket and the altitudemeter. Would have come in useful.

After breakfast, I went to sit at the dining car and took some shots.





Passed Tanggula, the highest altitude 5068m at about 950am.



Managed to catch pictures of snow mountain and grazing chiru!!! Tibetan Antelope!!!!!



Eagle??

Raining

Elevated railway track to allow wildlifes to passed underneath.

Huge snow sleets could be seen. It must be cold outside. There were railway workers that salute the train as the train drove past the camps that they were stationed at.



The train reached the stop before Naqu. This was the high altitude stop with similar oxygen content and temperature to Lhasa. The oxygen outlet started supplying.





Train reached Lhasa punctually at 430pm.





The police escorted us to our guide. once the guide gave all the necessary info with the police, we walked to his van.


Our family-run hotel.

Xq recommended us to try the steamboat. Each of us was given a small pot to cook the food we ordered. We can order soup that we like. Such nice soup! Totally invigorating after the journey. We were happy with the meal except the one flight of stair up which was a challenge at this altitude. Think we came early, most of the customers only came in after we left.




The above 2 photos were taken by R.

When i was playing with my handphone, thunder roared. Thunderstomp soon came. We were lucky to be snuggled in the bed by this time.



Lhasa is famous for its night rain. The thunderstorm that started in the night carried on in the form of drizzle till next morning though. We braced ourselves for the fine mist and looked for breakfast place. We found a youtiao soy bean place which is quite nice. As soon as we sat down, more people started streaming in and soon the small restaurant is full. Lucky we came in earlier.





We set off to Potala Palace at 810. While we were waiting for the palace to open, in the drizzle, one american guy was speaking loudly. Even his fellow american from Boston found him annoying. As soon as the palace was opened, we enter through the group entrance. Groups entered according to the pre book timing, not the order they queued or jostled so everyone waited patiently for their time. We were one of the first few groups to enter. Our guide gave us a very informative tour. The steps are slippery and steep, real challenge at high altitude. No photography allowed inside the palace. And we must finish touring the palace within one hour otherwise the tour guide might be denied bringing the next group in. Oh yes, you have to take off your hat when you enter a temple to show your respect to the buddhas. The tibetan will not be shy to tell you off if you forgot. We know the sun outside is very glaring...but ...










See How thick the wall of Potala Palace is?




Only Dalai Lama can use the middle flight of stairs.

Once we finished the tour, we went to the post office to send postcards. By then the drizzle had stopped and the brutal scorching sun had come out till we couldnt open our eyes. We had our lunches at a nepalese restaurant before continuing our tour at Jokhang Monastery.





We managed to take Potala Palace from the rooftop of the monastery. The whole place was very crowded since the tibetans perform their religious ritual in the temple as well.







Yh managed to use camera trick to bring Potala Palace from far way into our picture.


The local who took our picture couldnt do the trick that Yh did.

We decided to spend the afternoon shopping at Bajiaojie.



I walked many shops before I managed to find warm clothings for the Everest Base Camp visit. After a long walk I finally walked back to the hotel. In the evening we went to the plaza to take pictures of Potala Palace from another angle. After which we went for western meal. The three who have tripod went back to the same plaza to take night shots of Potala Palace, while R and I took trishaw back to the hotel.




The above picture was taken by Yh.

Please click here to go to the next destination, Everest Base Camp.