September 12 - By Saturday evening, we had arrived in Lhasa – the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region. We will be staying in Lhasa for three nights. Lhasa itself has a history of more than 1,300 years although it recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The next morning, we visited Potala Palace, a World Heritage Site. Formerly the residence of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, it is now nothing more than a popular tourist attraction. Of the 2,000 rooms in the Red and White Palaces, we could only visit about 20 in the time slot we were given.

The interior is dimly lit, with the scent of yak butter lamps permeating the air. As no photography is allowed inside, members had to contend with buying the souvenir book of the place or absorb as much visual and aural information as they could.

We were also shown the living and meditation quarters of the Dalai Lama, the tombs of the former Dalai Lamas, and deities made of gold and encrusted in gemstones. Colourful Tibetan murals decorated the walls of each room while pilgrims, monks and nuns mingle with the hordes of visitors who yearn to see the sacred treasures of Potala Palace.

The rest of the day was free and easy. Team members made a beeline to the busiest and oldest of streets in Lhasa. Barkhor Street surrounds another World Heritage Site – the Jokhang Temple Monastery. Here you will find pilgrims prostrating every few feet, chanting sacred mantras or walking with spinning hand-held prayer wheels. Barkhor Street is also famous for Nepalese and more importantly Indian food. It’s been four weeks without Malaysian food, so members are chowing down on Nasi Biryani, Naan, Palak Paneer, Aloo Gobi, and Chicken Tikka. The adventurous have tried Yak Steak, tender but salty.

The cars have been sent for servicing to ensure they are in tip-top condition for the third leg of our journey. Tomorrow, we say farewell to Mike Pease, Managing Director of Ford Malaysia, and media members Yamin Vong (New Straits Times), Mohd Hazli Hassan (Utusan Malaysia), and Geoffrey Lip (The Star) who had joined the team for this sector.

Today is the last day the team will be in Lhasa. It has been a good break and the team is preparing to hit the road again. Tomorrow we will visit the world’s highest saltwater lake.