Day 2: Lhasa - Namtso - Yampajen - Lhasa

拉萨—纳木措—羊八井—拉萨

Tour guide told us there some changes in schedule, coz the tickets to Potala (布达拉宫）is very tight, and he got us the next day's ticket instead of today. According to him, in holiday, there are about 5000 people wants to go to the Potala, but only 2000 tickets per day were issued. We were considered lucky to even have a ticket for tomorrow. (luckily he got us the ticket, if not, come all the way to Lhasa but not to Potala, WTF??)

So today, we going for an adventurous trip to Namtso (in Tibet, anything ends with -tso, means it's a lake). We happily sat onto the bus, not knowing the trip was 500+km back & forth, with 200 km road with bad condition. And also, not knowing we have to cross over a 5150 meters mountain. The ordeal was waiting silently in front of us. (all we know at that time was, Namtso is an extremely beautiful salt water lake!)

Along the road, we saw some 朝圣者，3步一叩首 (3 steps 1 kao-tao). Tour Guide told us they came from their village. Normally after something bad happened to the village, or someone in their family fall sick, they will send the young fella to come to Lhasa's 大昭寺 for prayer. And this trip, whole trip is 3-steps-1-kaotao, could take about 1.5 years!! We were so stunned. We cannot believe this. They are so devoted. Under the hot sun, this is definitely not easy and unachievable without strong belief in their religion. We took some pictures with them, and each of us gave them some money, wish them good luck. Their determination, is most chinese lack of. We should all learn from them!

After few hours ordeal bus ride, we reached the 5010 meters mountain (纳根山口）, where you can see the 念青唐古拉山 from far. I was very dizzy that time already. Felt like vomiting, but I kept telling myself I can do it. After taking a few photos at that spot, I quickly get onto the bus (actually... the pace is slow. At 5010 meters, you cannot have BIG action, you will faint).

Suddenly, tour guide came onto the bus panicly, "Oxygen tank! Oxygen tank!". He zoomed into the last row, grab the emergency used oxygen tank, and ran down to the bus. "Someone fainted..." That time, bui bui and Eric was still downstairs. It never crossed my mind the fainted person is our fren Eric! Apparently, his hat was almost blew off by a sudden strong wind. He was running to catch the hat, and due to lack of oxygen, you should not run, and thus, he fainted. But luckily after some oxygen supply, he woke up, and managed to get on to the bus. In that cold weather, I saw there was sweat coming from the tour guide's forehead. I know Eric just past by death valley that close. It was a very dangerous moment.

After that, tour guide jokingly tell Eric, "don't ever chase your hat next time. your life worth more than that;)"

We were too panic, did not manage to snap a picture of fainted Eric. hahaha...

Another 2 hours ordeal bus ride, we finally reached Namtso! It was very beautiful!! It is the second highest salt water lake in the world. The water is from the melted snow from 念青唐古拉山. Water is light blue, and sky is clear, and got snow-mountain, with lazy 牦牛 resting at the beach.

I love this picture, it is now my desktop wallpaper:)

It was a beautiful lake - Namtso. But, I don't have mood to snap more pictures. My head was spinning. And, I cannot hold my vomit-mindset. I vomited. Luckily not to the lake (to them, that lake is very holly, and you cannot wash your hand at the lake, don't even mention puke inside the lake!). I vomited on the road. The feeling was horrible. Again, I quickly get onto the bus to rest. Scolding myself "you useless brat! such a beautiful lake, and you just have to choose this moment to vomit, idiot!".

So, same day, Eric fainted, I vomited. On the ride back to Lhasa, we stopped at the 羊八井温泉, but none of us got mood to play liao (Except bui bui and cecilia, they were tip-top healthy).

Actually, the whole group, also got a lot of people unwell that day. No one expects the ride was so ordeal - bad road condition, high mountain, lack of oxygen, hot hot sun exposure.. Tour Guide sent doctor to some of our hotel room (of course, I raised my hand high high when he asked for room number) to give us 点滴. The whole 点滴 process takes like 2 hours, so bored. But it is really working well for us. After that, I can sleep really well. And the rest of the trip, I don't have serious headache anymore. Hooray!!! The Chinese way of treating sickness is sometimes very marvellous!

The doctor, while taking the needle away from me, was having a cigarette at the same time (totally destroy the earlier good image), and it costs 180 per person. Wow...

This marks the end of our Day 2 trip. Unforgettable experience!

By the time the 点滴 was completed, it was 12am. Again, cannot take bath. Yucks. It has reached beyond my limit, 2 days without bath, that is so disgusting!