So Lhasa is the last city we're exploring on our own. I'm looking forward to Xi'An and seeing our friend Fangshuo, and getting his insider knowledge on how to get around. Then in Mongolia we'll have our host, Oyun, to help us get squared away. I'm ready for this kind of help! Yesterday we kind of lost it in the morning- we were trying to do simple things like buy airplane tickets and fruit and then lunch, and it was *so* difficult. We manged to get everything we needed, but it took us three hours! To do the same errands in Boston would've taken 30 minutes max. But this is part of the experience. And when Eric's bike started falling apart (see previous blog), we were surrounded by people who wanted to help. so that was the good side.
Its amazing how many *people* there are here. Even just getting onto the plane in Zhongdian to fly to Lhasa, there were about 6 people standing at the gate, and only one checking tickets. Wonder what the other 5 were doing. But everyone has a job who wants one here. There are no snow plows in Zhongdian, so the other day when it snowed, there were women out in the streets with their little face masks on (most of the cities are so polluted, many people wear masks covering their mouth and nose), and these big brooms to sweep the snow away. I wonder what they do when they get *big* snowstorms. Maybe they don't. But what a different system. There are so many ways to live in this world. Thus the title of this blog- it feels like chaos to us, but to the people that live here there is a flow that makes sense to them. Just like there is a flow in the cities where we come from- like driving in Boston traffic. I used to kind of pride myself on my Boston driving skills, and didn't feel scared at all driving around there. I know some of you agree, and some of you are like NO WAY. But you still get my point.
We're hoping to go to Umtso lake (I think it is also called Nam Tso), but we have to wait until we are a little better acclimated. It is another 3300 feet up from here- getting close to the maximum altitude where people can actually live for any extended period of time. We met a Belgian couple last night who we hope to travel with, but we would like to go a day later than they wanted so that we can have one more day to acclimatize. so we'll see.
This morning I'm having a little time to myself while Eric goes to the Johnkang Temple right here in the middle of Lhasa. I wanted some down time to check email, have a nice warm beverage, and then maybe find somewhere in the sunshine to knit. Its a beautiful clear day here on the roof of the world. It has felt like a very long trip- which is good. I think I will feel ready to come home when the time comes. Its just strange that "home" will not be Boston. That part is hard, and I'm trying not to think about it very much. But truthfully, as I told Andy (my brother), after all the 9 to 27 hour commutes we've been doing, 5 hours in a car--where I control the music, when we stop, where we stop, why we stop, and there are no violent movies blaring in the background-- feels easy.
We are having all kinds of fun conversations about how we want to set up our lives in Montreal. This trip has made us value keeping things simple, and seeing how much joy we can get out of just focusing on a few things and going deeply in to them. I think my daily yoga practice helps with this kind of thinking. Summer of learning french, looking for houses, reading about co-ops, possibly volunteering in the public sector to practice my french and start to network.
Sun is creeping down the wall behind me- I hope it comes down to me soon. it is *quite* cold. I've been wearing every shred of clothing I brought. They keep two hot water thermoses in our room, so at night I fill up our two water bottles and put them in my bed to warm it up. We sleep under two huge quilts, with hats and neck-warmers. And that is just warm enough. We get our systems down in each place we stay- how to wash, how to store our stuff, how to protect our valuables, how to brush our teeth- its different in each guest house we've stayed in.
Well, I'm off to find some sunshine in which to knit. I hope you are all doing well and that spring is well on its way.
xo
betsy
No comments:
Post a Comment