finally some pix

    Rodger's photos are finally processed, and I've worked through all the CDs (uploading and renaming all the files), and hope to create a PowerPoint presentation to put on a CD/DVD disc. Sorting through each set of prints, negatives and data files, I discovered: one totally blank CD, and two instances where a strip of four shots was not printed or included on that roll's CD. We took those three packs back to Wal-Mart this morning, and, of course, they called to say the new CDs and prints were ready not long after we got back home. We'll pick them up sometime next week.

    I now have over 4,000 photographs from the trip to Tibet on my laptop, from 11 of the 16 participants. There is another CD of photographs from the other married couple on the trip that I have yet to upload. He took at least as many photos as Rodger did (16 rolls of 24 exposures; 2 rolls of 36), probably more!

    I have discovered that there is no such thing as a bad photograph of the Potala either. There is something quite mystical about the place. The photographs appear quite unreal . . . every photo in that huge folder just makes me want to return even moreso. Here's a taste . . . (click for a full-size photo)

Taken on the roof of the Jokhang (the most sacred place in Tibet, and a primary pilgrimage destination), looking sort of southeast at a sacred mountain the name of which I can't remember.

The Potala was not only the winter home of the Dalai Lama, but the seat of government for the nation of Tibet.

In the background is Nychen Tanglha (a little out of this shot, actually, to the left), which is also the name of a mountain range around it. Our bus had stopped at this lonely spot in the long empty road to Namtso where there was a small building (with a teahouse, an outdoor pool table, and outhouses) and this large area of prayer flags for the sacred mountain.

And, lastly, this is Nyenchen Tanglha from the opposite, Namtso, side. You can just see some of the lake behind the tents. It is a beautiful place at which we spent far too little time; more pictures from here in a future post.

photo links

    From my digital camera

    From other people in the group

sadly, no slide show

    sorry, folks, but the only time to internet is in the evening, and in the evenings we are just too tired to do trek to the internet cafe. if we had stayed at the original hotel, we would have been closer to it. as it is now, we have just enough energy to get some supper and whatever groceries we need for the next day's field trip. tomorrow is a class/free day -- NO climbing monastery stairs or kora unless we want to!

    I can't find a quick way to dump the memory card, so pictures will have to wait until I can figure a way not to have to upload one at a time...

    We are having a wonderful time, with only a little stomach trouble, and I guess, a week from tomorrow we will be heading home. Love to all!

6 days & counting

    One week from the time this is posted, we are scheduled to be landing in China!   At 4:55PM, on Monday, May 14th.   According to their website, our hotel is "45 minutes from the hotel" but our itinerary says we'll arrive at approximately 7:00PM.   Customs and traffic, I'm sure.   Here are both day and night shots of the hotel that I found on the Internet, linked to the hotel website.

    Generally, the posting times will be current time in China/Tibet -- 13 hours ahead of Central Daylight Savings Time in the US -- so, no, I'm not up 3:55AM here in MS posting this -- I just typed it up and set the time.   It is actually about 11:15pm on Sunday (May 6th) and I need to go to bed.   I still have to work all week, and we have to get packed.  I'm trying not to get over anxious (in the *bad* way) or too stressed.   It will, however be   V E R Y   hard to concentrate at work . . . the more I read about the food, the more worried I am about being able to eat properly while I am there . . .