A VISUAL JOURNEY with YSW


Sunday, February 6, 2011

Kharola high pass

We visited Samding Monastery that morning, which was a short drive away. It was the 1st stop of the day before we set off. The monastery was the first to be headed by a female abbot.
We decided not to cycle today because we wanted to get to Gyantse in time to see celebrations at Baiju Temple (see later post). Note: Any excuse works. I was aching from the previous day's ride, mainly 'cos we faced headwinds even though the road was flat. And I was riding faster than I ought to have. And it was cold.

A rather grey morning.
Some locals we encountered along the way.
An inscription though the perspective's a bit off.
Snow peaks! I love to see them (and we'd see many more of them later). Did I say it was cold?
Kharola high pass. Yes, it was snowing. On our way up, we saw 2 Chinese cyclists cycling. Uphill. In the cold. They're the *real cyclists*, i.e. those who carry their stuff in saddle bags on their bikes and probably camp overnight wherever they happen to be. We had sheltered accommodation every night, even though some were really really basic (i.e. completely out of YSW's comfort zone). Ok fine, we're a pampered lot.
After the high pass, it was sunny skies! Interesting color contrast.

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