EVEREST!

Any traveler worth his/her salt these days takes the bus from Lhasa to Kathmandu (or versa-vice), an intrepid, wild journey that takes a few days. Due to my 'budget deal' with the China International Travel Services office in Golmud, I received the ridiculously bare-boned Tibet travel itinerary of 'GOLMUD - LHASA - BEIJING.' My guide found this itinerary quite laughable.

Because of the minimalism of my itinerary, it would have been risky or impossible to go overland to Nepal, but totally kosher to fly out. Taking the flight was hardly an intrepid travel maneuver, and yet it offered a view of the world's tallest piece of rock: Mt. Everest (seen here peeking out of the clouds).


Incidentally, Nepal has two small tourist airlines, Buddha Air and Yeti Air, which run mountain flights to Everest and back. It sounds dangerous to me, but the price is reasonable (around $150 US).

Golmud: Scenes

Those who go to Golmud are probably there for a stopover, en route to Lhasa, Tibet, or else trying to finagle a legal Chinese permit to visit the Tibet Autonomous Zone. I was of the latter camp. It took about six days to secure permission to visit the ever-sensitive Chinese Tibet, though a well-timed visit to Golmud could result in permit acquisition within three business days. This is the facade to look out for, the China International Travel Service (CITS) building, a never-never land where all the magic of Tibet permits takes place. Head straight for the fourth floor. Don't wake the upper-echelon managers sleeping at their desks.

Near the central square of Golmud is ... green umbrella heaven.