Gyantse’s two main sights are the fortress and the monastery. There’s a great view of the city if you try and sneak in by climbing up to the prayer flags, though it doesn’t get you into the fortress.
Gyantse’s fortress. I climb the steps and take some photos just outside where you buy tickets and am greeted by this sign.
I’ve been taking devious routes ever since I decided to enter Tibet but am caught by ticket sellers looking for a devious way in. These guys should be in charge of ensuring foreigners can’t get in without permits.
On the way from the fortress to the monastery, I meet a Tibetan woman who’s caring for a baby who’s parents were both killed. She has a son. Her son has a toy. His toy is a syringe. The son is a curious fellow and rips my shirt trying to get a better look at my hairy chest. He calls me yak. I like him, and his boogers. I give him a piggyback to the monastery where I hope to use him as a free pass in. It doesn’t work.
The monastery/stupa looks pretty cool and gives good views of the surrounding city.
Don’t mess with the Stupa.
The fortress, from the top of the stupa.
I have lunch at a place that happens to be in the guidebook. The food is ok but the prices are higher than the altitude.
After lunch I try to hitch a lift to Shigatse and agree on a price of 10 Yuan. For this price I share the front seat with another Tibetan and in the five seat car there are nine passengers and half a yak carcass.
The car stops in a town halfway to Shigatse and another driver gets my bag out of the trunk before I reach it and puts it in his minivan. I tell him I agreed on 10 Yuan to Shigatse from Gyantse, he says ok and gives the driver of the first car 10 Yuan, I can see the problems that this will cause.
When we arrive in Shigatse, sure enough, the man wants 20 Yuan, I tell him I agreed on 10 Yuan for the trip and that I hadn’t asked him to pay the other driver. This upsets the man but he accepts the price, I give him 15 out of pity.
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