A Final Goodbye!
Trip Start
Mar 14, 2009
1
184
214
Trip End
Ongoing
Where I stayed
Lhasa, Tibet, China
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Shigatse had been a nice little break, for the first time in a long time we had a great nights sleep in clean white linen sheets, with no bugs, leaks or anything else that is usually unexpected.
The drive had been routine until we suddenly hit a road block. There had been an accident only a couple of cars up. It had been a horrible accident involving a bulldozer and a four wheel drive. The 4 wheel drive had ploughed into the back of the bulldozer. They had both been going the same way on a straight and flat road, with no other cars involved. The only explanation we could come up with was that the driver hadn't been paying attention and only swerved shortly before he hit the bulldozer. There wasn't even any skid marks on the ground. The passenger had died instantly and the driver walked away a very lucky man. Lobsang had just been telling us that this was the deadliest road in Tibet. We wish we didn't have to see it to believe it.
The traffic line had grown long and as usual in China drivers instead of waiting at the end of the line would drive up on the wrong side and try and cut in. For the first time I saw the police stop the traffic from blocking both sides of the road and waved them back.
After 2 hours of traffic the bulldozer was moved and traffic started to flow again. As soon as we were free traffic went crazy. Everyone was trying to make up for lost time speeding all the way. Over taking on blind corners, anywhere and everywhere. What was wrong with these people? They had just seen someone die, did they want to join him?
We had all become very edgy and it was hard not to watch the traffic on the way home, shaking our heads at their stupidity. Today of all day we were happy to get out of the car.
Tonight was the last night with Michael as he was flying out to Shanghai the next day. So with his amazing ability to find places to go out even when there is none, he managed to hunt down a rooftop bar we could sip cold beers in and watch the night pass above the Barkhor circuit. A great way to spend a night. Thanks Michael!
