I woke early, worked a bit, ate a quick breakfast and was on the road to the airport by 6:45a for a 9:00 flight. It felt very different leaving Tibet than it did arriving. Driving in, I was filled with eager anticipation. The two lane road from the airport to Lhasa – with one portion dirt and rutted – promised the Tibet of my imagination and belied the bustling reality wide streets and shopping malls, the development and difficulties. Driving out, I grieved for the Tibetan people and their culture. I wish I could have stayed much much longer.

At the airport, I hugged LhacBa goodbye and we both said we’d keep in touch. I left him a small gift. I do hope to see him and his family again someday, and maybe even help him build a business. Here’s a small start: if you want to go to Tibet, definitely contact him – his phone is 136 1899 7012 and his email is lobsangTB@yahoo.com.

Chinese airport security involves the same procedures as the U.S. with the addition of each person being wanded individually. It is extraordinarily slow. The flight on the first leg of my trip to Chengdu was late, and I had to run through the airport to catch a connection to Shanghai. Which is more complicated here because you have to re-check in and get your boarding pass stamped when you transfer.

Lhasa to Chengdu to Shanghai

I landed in Shanghai, got my bag, and the hotel car that was supposed to be waiting wasn’t. A week earlier this would have concerned me, but I knew I could easily take a taxi, so I wasn’t concerned. I did get it straightened out and took a car in, which took about an hour.

It was mid-afternoon and I intended to go see the Bund at night, but I was exhausted again and ended up falling asleep early.