Chengdu to Lhasa - Reflections of a Traveler

      It's incredible what four hours of sleep, a shower, and a substantial breakfast can do for a person. I'm feeling very positive and full of affection. Now at the airport, waiting at my gate, I have a refreshed sense of confidence. My arrival last night went smoothly; I collected my bag and encountered a crowd of drivers eager to offer rides. I had looked into potential issues prior to arriving and felt I did a good job choosing a driver to avoid being scammed. This airport, TFU, is about an hour's drive from my chosen hotel. I hoped to spend an evening in the city and enjoy a nice meal, which unfortunately didn't happen, but it did lead me to a hotel somewhat distant from the airport. As we drove into the city, I noticed the modern expressway, nice cars, and a skyline completely obscured by towering apartment buildings. It made me think that significant developments have occurred since my last visit here two decades ago. That does seem to hold true; however, once we reached the hotel area, a memory clicked. I'm staying at a Hilton (please, no judgment), which is quite nice inside, as expected from the brand. What struck me was the surroundings. The streets are narrow and extremely crowded, filled with bicycles, scooters, cars, and pedi-cabs in a chaotic mix. It's fascinating to see how traffic and street life mirror the culture of a place. My driver first took me to a Hampton and insisted it was correct. I resisted and showed him the information on my phone, where I had taken a screenshot of the hotel name and address in translation. He didn’t speak any English but said he would verify. He left me by the car and walked away with my phone to inquire... yikes, the anxiety of losing your phone, although I had his car, haha. While all this was happening, we were double-parked on a narrow street with other vehicles calmly maneuvering around us. He returned and showed me on his phone that this hotel believed there were two possibilities and would take me to one of them. The first option had a mass of debris at the entrance and sidewalk, looking like a major construction project was underway. He went inside and came back to say the hotel was on the sixth floor. After payment, I found the elevator, and he was right—what a relief. The check-in process was smooth. I asked about the Tibet Travel Permit, and he was unaware, but he began searching on the computer and eventually went to the back room, returning with my envelope. Once I located my room, I recalled the half bottle of Scotch I'd left in Warsaw. I would have loved to stroll around, grab a coffee, and observe the scene, but that wasn't part of the plan this time. The 2 a.m. check-in clerk was still there in the morning and helped me arrange transportation to the airport. Breakfast was fantastic, featuring a large amount of interesting and well-presented food, though I recognized only about 10% of it. I tried a bit of everything but mainly enjoyed the fresh fruit and some familiar items alongside a few new choices. The desk clerk approached me to say my ride was outside, 20 minutes early, but I was ready. I've been surprised by the payment situation here—Visa and MasterCard aren't preferred; they mainly use phone apps. So, I asked the clerk to instruct the driver to take me to an ATM on the way to the airport so I could pay in cash. There's a song stuck in my head that I can't explain. I usually get drawn in by the meaning of lyrics, but this time it's more about the melody. To block out the constant noise around me, I have my earphones in, listening to Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal." It calms me, and maybe that's why it has come along on this journey. The Tibet Travel Permit is crucial; I've had to show it three times at the airport. I know about the complex history between China and Tibet, but I need to learn more. It's a fascinating document, and I'll post a picture of it in a future update. In Italy, a friend from Quebec got a cold and needed a pharmacy. I offered him my cold medicine, but he declined, saying, "You might need them." He was right—ugh. I've begun taking my medications to help with altitude sickness and prevent illness. Fingers crossed. I have to go now—boarding is soon. I'm not sure who's reading this, but I hope you're enjoying my adventure as much as I am. Take care!

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