Perhaps the Buddhist philosophy of impermenance results in an acceptance of the huge transformations that are occurring in Tibet because the Chinese have certainly landed in Lhasa! Huge video advertising walls, exclusive shopping, not to mention "Dico's" fast food stores appear all too frequently. The Potala Palace and old town remain unscathed and beautiful albeit complete with CCTV cameras and police on every corner.
The billions poured into infrastructure across the country is remarkable, rail and road have a solidity that we have not seen in India and Nepal but maybe building on the plateau is easier than on the edge of the Himalayas! However small the village there seems to be a government issue playground with the school, new electricity supplies and, of course, a police check point.
The traffic policeman who accompanies you on all long distance tourist buses across the country is amusing but somehow reassuring. The strict speed restrictions and police checks reduce the chaos and danger that prevails on roads in this part of the world.
Many Chinese buck the trend by not walking in the clockwise kora circumambulation around Buddhist structures, but some young Chinese seem to display devotion and embrace the Tibetan culture in their own way - so maybe there will be a harmonious future for Tibet and China, although there is a growing economic divide between Tibetan and Chinese people.
After five days in Lhasa it was a four day bus hop to Rongbuk Monastery and our first sight of Chomalongma (Everest) from the North. The journey stoped at Shigatse, Gyantse and Sakya towns which gradually became smaller and more Tibetan, and all had major monasteries. We have walked away from mountains in the past with either satisfaction or regret but turning our back on the magnificent view of Everest after a clear morning was like facing away from the Buddha when leaving a monastery.
