Into the inner sanctum

1. A return from a Tibetan family meal would you believe. Our driver has invited us to his house to share a meal with his family. His wife has prepared slices of pork fat, pig's ears, chicken with their feet still on, and phew some courgettes, sliced celery, mangetout and rice. Various uncles and aunts, who have come in the from fields have joined us. They opened a bottle of sweet local red wine to celebrate the baby's birth and the culmination was a bowl of warm yak's milk. Oh boy I do not like yak's milk. Remember some of our conversations!

2. The day, of course, was a wonderful one hearing about the birth of my third grandson. We were just about to set off for the day when Karstein phoned a mere 30 minutes after the birth and an hour later Kaaren phoned. It was delightful. They ran into problems towards the end and she had to have a caesarian. The doctors thought the baby's life would be in danger if they left it any longer. He has no name yet, they want to look at him thoroughly before deciding.
He weighed 9lbs 15oz and was 23 inches long. A big lad already.

3. We are now 12,000 up on the plateau with the Yaks and the Tibetan people. Those we spoke to said they did not want to be independent of China. Why should they when the Government give them so many advantages over the Han people. According to them it is just a minority who follow the Dali Llama.

4. The Leaping Tiger Gorge was magnificent. The noise of the water pounding over the rocks, the Yangste flowing towards the China Sea. As I mentioned the descent was 397 steps and the ascent was 397 and at altitude.

5. The distances here are great and we spend much time in the van or mini bus, which gets a little tedious at times. We are now only 100 miles from the actual Tibetan border.

6. So today has erased the awfulness of yesterday and we are moving slowly on to our final destination home for a wonderful cheese sandwich!! and of course all the other lovely comforts.

Here's to the full moon and a good life Roman Soldier.

The weary traveller