from one forbidden city to another

[rezendi]

In a last-ditch attempt to inject a note of adventure into this journey¹, and because the circa 120 hours I've spent aboard trains during the last month clearly hasn't been enough, in about six hours I'll be embarking on the 47-hour train journey from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet. See you in a few days, if I live to tell the tale².

¹Mostly kidding.

²This railway, the world's highest, which climbs into the Himalaya, traverses glaciers, and reaches an apex of some 4700 metres above sea level before descending into the Tibetan Plateau³, has only been in operation since July and there have already been altitude-related fatalities⁴.

³Lhasa iself at the relatively low elevation of 3650, slightly higher than La Paz. Which means I'll spend the the first day there grabbing walls and desperately trying not to faint after performing strenuous exertions such as climbing a flight of stairs.

⁴OK, fine, only among the very old. Leave my delusions of intrepidness alone, dammit.

Comments

[pphaneuf.livejournal.com]

So you just old, then? ;-)

*runs away, giggling*

[rezendi.livejournal.com]

I'd give you a good whuppin' if it weren't for this damn achy back of mine, boy.

[pphaneuf.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[rdi.livejournal.com]

Happy trails!

[phrawzty.livejournal.com]

Man, i got winded and wahtnot just getting to the top of Mt. Indefatigable in the Rockies a few years back - and that summit is just ~2600m up! :P

[whythawk.livejournal.com]

Aaargh, I wanna do that trip - you're going to have to fill me in

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Wow! How did you swing that? We were trying to get cameramen on there for a documentary we're doing, but no dice.

[rezendi.livejournal.com]

a) I applied for the Tibet permit after I was already in China.
b) I'm here as a tourist, not a journalist.

[delerium69.livejournal.com]

Was it difficult obtaining the visa?

(So do they provide emergency oxygen?)

[rezendi.livejournal.com]

Not difficult, to my surprise; just expensive.

(Yes - see next post.)

[endermunkee.livejournal.com]

Oh, lucky! Have fun, and please do your best to live to tell the tale.

[redbird]

Really, I'd have believed this was an adventure without that.

[stylishbastard.livejournal.com]

Have you joined the 3650 Metres High Club yet?

[rezendi.livejournal.com]

Alas, my girlfriend's still in Los Angeles.