Favorite thing about Lhasa: All the small communities hanging out in courtyards of tucked away temples

Runner up: Barkhor Square

Least favorite: Bicycle rickshaws

Favorite monastery experience: Following the pilgrim line in Jokhang and watching people pour spoonfuls of yak butter to the lamps lighting the statues

Runner up: Being shown around Drak Yerpa by a spunky old monk with a twinkle in his eye

Least favorite: Passing the beggars outside Sera—one of kids latched onto John’s leg

Favorite encounter: At one point on the road we had to pause because the road was blocked by a tractor-cart.  While we waited for the owner to move it out of the way, John took Polaroids of a nearby Tibetan family having a picnic.  The kids enthusiastically posed, the moms smiled shyly when we gave them the pictures, and the dads viewed the whole thing skeptically.  As we left, we saw them shaking their Polaroids while they waved goodbye.

Runner up: At pilgrim leaning over my shoulder to get a better look at the pictures in my book

Least favorite: The vendor who absolutely would not come down in price on prayer flags

Favorite wow moment: Seeing statue of Chenresig in Jokhang

Runner up: Getting to the bottom of Tiger Leaping Gorge and looking up

Least favorite: Having my passport confiscated by the police

Favorite kora: Reting monastery

Runner up: Ganden monastery

Least favorite: It don’t think it technically counts as a kora, but the path around the oldest Cypress tree was a waste of time

Favorite surprise: Visiting the nunneries and seeing how much community activity goes on there

Runner up: Dove chocolate bars available at just about every roadside store

Least favorite: Seeing a little toddler squat down and poop right in front of me on the sidewalk

Favorite tidbit out of the Lonely Planet: The Barkhor Square walking tour.  It was such a great scavenger hunt, and it was the only time we stopped at a monastery when the monks were dressed in ceremonial robes and hats

Runner up: Bringing a flashlight into the monasteries to better see the murals

Least favorite: The cheesecake at Tashi 2 was only so-so

Favorite vendor: The lady who sold us internet time at a small store near our guest house

Runner up: The guy who sold us a statue and a tea kettle

Least favorite: The girl who followed me for blocks trying to sell me a necklace

Favorite food: Curried potatoes

Runner up: Pork ribs in special Tibetan spice rub

Least favorite: Yak and veggie stirfry

That's all for now.  Pictures are uploaded here.

Love,

Trina