Source: CCTV.com

06-30-2006 12:25

Hello all,

after a very long journey we have arrived into Lhasa. We left Golmud for our 16 hour trip to a small little tibetan village called NuQu. The highway was beautiful. As I mentioned before, the landscape constantly changes and we reached heights of up to 5300 Meters above sea level. The high altitude is quite hard to deal with and we found ourselves stopping at a hospital along the way for a good few doses of oxygen. Despite the moment we were all laughing and having fun.

The next day we woke up and drove on to Lhasa. The land here is so raw, like it has never been touched by man. It resembles Canada in so many ways, except here are aboriginals and Yaks instead of aboriginals and buffalo. I think maybe Canada would have looked similiar to this before the white man took over and modernized. The mountains are based with cold, clean rushing rivers, the sun sets over hills showing colors of deep purple, red, green and brown. It is like heaven is all around you all the time.

We managed to make it to Lhasa that night in time for dinner. After such the hotel was appreciated and the new white towels after a hot shower a blessing. We did the usual banquet dinner with our new friends and enjoyed the tibetan songs sang to us by the beautiful tibetan women. No microphone was needed thats for sure! As we looked to eachother across our glasses of red wine, our eyes proved that we all now had a special bond from a journey of a lifetime.

Lhasa is amazing and the streets feel so serene. As you walk around the temples you see so many old men and women dressed in their clothing, women wearing long skirts with multicolored aprons on top and their hair twirled around their heads like a turban for it is so long. The men seem to like to wear hats similiar to a cowboy hat and basic brown pants and jackets. They all carry prayer wheels spinning clockwise as they walk through the streets past the monks in their deep red robes and yellow sashes. As you pass by everyone gives you a smile and sometimes a gentle touch on the face. I am humbled by the peace around me.

We will complete our last bit of filming tomorrow morning. Not sure if I am happy to go home or not. To witness such a hidden land is precious to me and a trip I will remember forever.

I send much tibetan love to you all. Wish you were here with me.

Tracey

Hello Pang

Nice to speak to you today. We managed to get some good footage today even though there were many dangers for us.

We did find some tibetan antelope grazing and it was amazing.

the road itself is quite well made however the danger is in the climate changes and the large trucks driving along it. today we went through a snow storm, heavy rain, sleet and sunshine.

our cameraman is not feeling well by the end of today but seems to be doing better now.

tomorrow we drive all day to Lhasa, amazing but tiring.

truth be told..... I love it!!! Seems this model can rough it in china as well. (wink)

Otherwise, I dont think I will have internet access until friday. Please feel free to call us at anytime as we appreciate you thinking of us.

take care and chat soon

Tracey

 

Editor:Wang Ping