Lhasa -The Holy City

Lhasaa -a place where culture meets religion and politics. Lhasa is the capital of Tibet and is the home of the magnificent Potala Palace. The Potala Palace is considered the palace of Tibet's religious leader, the Dalai Lama. I have been told that he does not live here anymore because of the rigid Chinese rule. He is living in India, and leading his country from there. The Chinese have a very tight grip on the city. It was very difficult for us to even enter. There is a sadness about the city. A few other hikers and I were welcomed to lunch by a lady who has lived in Lhasa for nearly 60 years. She told me the story of the Chinese takeover. Since the 1940s, the people of Tibet have been harassed by the Chinese government. Tears welled in her eyes as she told us about the many deaths that have occurred over the years. I cried myself...