In anticipation of World Vegetarian Day on October 1, let's explore some vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the capital.
Roads and driving behaviors are a fascinating aspect of this journey. I tend to think that driving styles are indicative of culture, although I can't quite define why. One factor is simply the quality of the roads and streets. As we move away from urban areas, the road conditions deteriorate. Generally, the roads are two-lane with little to no shoulder. We have encountered a few wide loads, and particularly when guardrails are present, the clearance is very limited. This situation has mostly occurred when meeting a semi-truck transporting a caterpillar. On switchbacks while ascending mountains, the uphill side features a drainage channel. If a vehicle strays off the road, its tires would be caught, making it impossible to exit without a tow truck. This reduced clearance, paired with narrow lanes, complicates tight turns, as long vehicles like a semi or our tour van must swing widely to keep their wheels from entering the drainage trough.
The lineup of table hosts for Chi Fan for Charity (CFFC) 2025 is almost complete.
These three days have involved a significant amount of driving. The views have been remarkable, and we've made stops at least every two hours at scenic overlooks or points of interest. Each leg of the journey takes around 10 hours to reach our destinations. The cultural differences have been quite intriguing, and I plan to write a separate entry detailing those observations. During our driving days, we encounter at least two checkpoints where they collect our passports and verify them against our Tibet Permit. At every tourist location, there were numerous trinket vendors, many of whom were quite assertive. What stood out to me were the people offering to take special photos for a fee. You could pose sitting on a yak, cradling a lovely small goat, beside a Harley, with large mastiffs, or standing on a jeep with someone dressed as a performer, among other creative setups.
This week, we have two new Italian restaurants, two new Lebanese places, a new COMMUNE RESERVE, and additional options on our To Try List.
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Still looking for weekend plans? Here’s a little inspiration for you!
Yibin Guest House collaborates with Kerry's Kitchen for a limited-time event.
Negroni Week 2025 has arrived, and 65 bars in Beijing are participating! We've highlighted three that you should definitely check out.
I need to rectify a mistake from yesterday. Today, we visited the Potala Palace, which is a palace, not a monastery. I initially thought it would be similar to the monastery experience, but it was truly unique. We climbed 375 steps to reach the top. One advantage of being part of a tour is that it grants access to more areas than solo travelers, so we had a thorough tour. This is where the Dalai Lama would reside if he were in Tibet. In photos, his quarters can be seen on the top floor with the yellow curtains.
"I fear a life not fully experienced; I dread the thought of looking back as an elderly person and regretting the time spent on trivial matters or attempting to be someone other than myself. I yearn for a life I'd be eager to read about; a grand story in which I am both the writer and the protagonist." Justin Shelter
Today, we will explore the largest and most famous monastery in Lhasa. I can see it from my hotel room window, and I am quite excited about it. If you've ever come across a postcard of Tibet, it probably features this monastery. That being said, I can express similar sentiments about monasteries as I do about ancient cathedrals; I appreciate the art, the distinctive architecture, and witnessing the local devotion, but after visiting a few in a short span, you often crave something different. This afternoon will also include some time at the local market street, which could be the perfect opportunity to find my trip souvenir.
The flight from Chengdu to Lhasa was just right. It lasted 2.5 hours and included one of the best airline meals I've ever had—yogurt, crumbly cake, and rice with a chicken mixture. For some reason, I found myself in a priority seat with plenty of legroom and no one next to me. I didn’t pay extra for this, so I'm feeling lucky. I really wanted to sleep, but about 45 minutes into the flight, I spotted a completely snow-covered peak rising above the clouds. This sight sparked excitement and kept me wanting to gaze out the window. Roughly an hour before we landed, the clouds began to clear, revealing numerous mountain peaks below me, and I could see a sea of them. In the valleys, I noticed small clusters of houses that were likely quite remote from any major towns. The mountain ridges had paths that seemed to connect circular structures, which I finally concluded were small water tanks positioned high to supply pressure to the villages below. Flying over the mountains occasionally felt strange, as the plane seemed to gently rock side to side, likely due to the air currents above them being somewhat turbulent. As we approached Lhasa, it appeared we were following a valley with ridges on either side. Eventually, I spotted a landing strip over a ridge. We continued to follow the valley, moving north from the landing strip as the ridges began to fade away. The plane then turned gradually about 80 degrees to align with the runway, making for an interesting approach to the airport.
Save the date! On Saturday, November 8, 46 of the best restaurants in Beijing will unite for the 2025 Chi Fan for Charity (CFFC).
If you're going away for the October holiday, be sure to pick up these items before your trip!
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