We headed off on our first morning to the Jokhang - the first buddhist temple in Tibet and hence, to most, the most important. It was incredible and we sat and watched for hours the pilgrims prostrating themselves, burning incense and joining them on their kora clockwise round the temple (see photo's). Words can't really express the enthusiasm and passion these pilgrims have for their faith. It's humbling. They seem truly excited when they arrive at the temples - but then, as some of them have prostrated themselves across Tibet, I guess they've got every reason to be!

We've also been out to Sera monastery. See the video and picture of the debating monks. It's all very entertaining but very hard to believe that it's not a show put on to attract the tourists! Apparently it's all in a foot-stamp, a hand clap and prayer bead swing as you make your point!

This afternoon we've been to the Potala Palace (see the photo for the only angle possible without a chinese flag centre stage!). The monks who caretake the temples are forbidden to wear their robes in front of tourists and so it was with mixed feelings that we headed in. It was good to have seen it, but you had to use your imagination to picture what it used to be like before the 'cultural revolution'.

The other couple of places we were hoping to visit whilst we were here it turns out are closed because the US Government have given the Dalai Lama an award or something (as you can imagine, it's not been widely reported here!)? We think it's a bit of paranoia about tourists photographing things that they don't want photographed - we're told the monks at Drepung monastery are very 'strong' - in support of the Dalai Lama we suppose. So, tomorrow we are going to check out some of the smaller sites and chill out before we move onto Chengdu on the 20th. We're also checking out of our nice posh hotel tomorrow (included as part of our overland trip) so it's back to the land of the guesthouse and unattached bathrooms!

Impressions of Lhasa . . . mmm, perhaps less 'Roof of the World' and more wide streets, concrete construction sites and buzzy metropolis, but we're glad we came, we've seen some memorable things and had a great time!