Spent 9 hours on the bus travelling east away from Lhasa towards the mountains and the bustling town of Gyantse. Very beautiful scenery during the drive to get here. We also did several hours on back country roads, barely 4wd tracks. I was at the back of the bus and it was extremely bumpy.
Enroute we visited a factory that makes incense sticks. Quite incredible as the factory is located on the banks of the river where they divert water to drive wooden grinders which produce the incense. No buildings, no electricity, no nothing. Also visited a factory which grinds barley to produce a flour like substance. Again, all driven off water power. Living here in rural China is very simple.
It will take another three days in the Bus to get to Chinese Base Camp. And then two more days of hiking to get to Advanced Base Camp. I am really getting ready to do some upward hiking. Guess I will just have to be patient.
