Lhasa
We next flew Air China from Chengdu to Lhasa where we stayed at the Shangbala Hotel. Our arrival was spectacular.
To put this in context ... we have just spent 2 1/2 weeks in various large, very large, and not-so-large cities in China. There have been a few welcome exceptions, but in general, the weather has been cloudy/foggy and the level of pollution has been very very high. (It has been hurt your eyes, throat & lungs high; I can't see the building across the river high. HIGH, okay!) Our average altitude to date has been maybe 200 meters above sea level. We've been near the sea or on or near large rivers the whole time with high humidity. For a photographer, this is a near death experience. Light is crappy. Clarity is crappy. Contrast is crappy. I've tried to make the best of it, but it's been a challenge.
As we land in Lhasa, our altitude is 12,000 feet (almost 4,000 meters). The sky is a brilliant clear cobalt blue. The sun is low in the sky and shines with that slightly whitish yellow color I associate with high altitude, cold clear air, and low angle of solar incidence. Our drive into Lhasa from the airport wound along a small river with poplars lining the road. It's Fall and the poplars are a brilliant light gold. They are lit up by the sun and seem to glow against the sky. We are in a "bowl" with much much higher mountains all around, some with snow ... and we can see them clearly.
My first impression of Lhasa and Tibet was so positive, the rest of our stay here could have been a bust and it would have all averaged out okay. But it wasn't a bust. I loved our stay in Tibet and consider it a high point in the trip. Read on ... and enjoy.
These photos were taken in October 2005 mostly with a Nikon D70.
Read MoreTo put this in context ... we have just spent 2 1/2 weeks in various large, very large, and not-so-large cities in China. There have been a few welcome exceptions, but in general, the weather has been cloudy/foggy and the level of pollution has been very very high. (It has been hurt your eyes, throat & lungs high; I can't see the building across the river high. HIGH, okay!) Our average altitude to date has been maybe 200 meters above sea level. We've been near the sea or on or near large rivers the whole time with high humidity. For a photographer, this is a near death experience. Light is crappy. Clarity is crappy. Contrast is crappy. I've tried to make the best of it, but it's been a challenge.
As we land in Lhasa, our altitude is 12,000 feet (almost 4,000 meters). The sky is a brilliant clear cobalt blue. The sun is low in the sky and shines with that slightly whitish yellow color I associate with high altitude, cold clear air, and low angle of solar incidence. Our drive into Lhasa from the airport wound along a small river with poplars lining the road. It's Fall and the poplars are a brilliant light gold. They are lit up by the sun and seem to glow against the sky. We are in a "bowl" with much much higher mountains all around, some with snow ... and we can see them clearly.
My first impression of Lhasa and Tibet was so positive, the rest of our stay here could have been a bust and it would have all averaged out okay. But it wasn't a bust. I loved our stay in Tibet and consider it a high point in the trip. Read on ... and enjoy.
These photos were taken in October 2005 mostly with a Nikon D70.
