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I expected to find an ancient and traditional city. Instead, I found a modern city with beautiful stores. Temples and Monasteries were the best experience. Tibetan food is tasteful and spice. Tibetan Tea (tea with milk of yak) was my favorite. I would return for trekking to the Everest

A visit to Tibet is a lot of fun and seeing the local traditions and dress is also a great experience. I wasn't crazy about the fact that you need a guide to go anywhere. Your paperwork must be in order or forget it. Tibetans are forbidden by the Chinese gov't to have passports so no matter how successful a person is he can never travel outside of China. The Buddhist religion is especially prevalent in Tibet and I wished the tours would have been a little less religion oriented. That said, our guide took us to a couple of authentic places to eat which were great and for me, the highlight of the trip.

I had been here ten years before, I'm quiet sure that Lhasa is an indifferent city but absolute different with your imagination. The best of place to challange yourself and discovery another destinations. To know Shol village and Lhasa in order to improve the second side of mine. If you are a solo traveler, please do not forget a miracle will still waiting for you.

PREPARE FOR ALTITUDE SICKNESS. We flew in (vs the gradual train) and had a really hard time, even though we were taking medicine before and during. I wish we had brought 'oxygen packs' or used a hotel or tour group that offered oxygen. Instead we ended up at the local hospital with our 13 yo after her lips turned blue! It really affected our mood and energy. Food was GREAT - we ate at our hotel (House of Shambhala), at Lhasa Kitchen, and at Namaste. Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and wandering around Old Town, Sara Temple and the debating monks are the highlights. It was interesting to drive high up to the Yamdak lake and experience 16,500 feet.

Be prepared to be harassed by the Chinese police. Too many police and army check points. We went out one afternoon without our guide and were stopped and thoroughly interrogated 4 times by police within a manner of 30 mins. Even after we showed them our Tiber permit, they would not leave us alone and demanded our passports. By the 4th 'interrogation', I was not amused and told the police to mind their own business and that I was not showing my passport for a third time. We had enough of this continued harassment and went back to the hotel, not having visited what we intended to.

Step back in time and watch the pilgrims complete their clockwise Kora around Lhasa's Barkhor Square. At any time of day you'll see scores of people prostrating themselves in front of the Jokang temple amidst the heady scent from the huge incense burners. On the outskirts of town is Sera monastery where you can watch the monks' debate: an animated event full of hand slapping.