Nam Tso Lake

After a day's rest in Lhasa to shop for souvenirs, we decided to leave Tibet by the overland route northward to Qinghai province. First we would spend June 30 visiting Nam Tso, another major holy lake north of Lhasa. One the way as we crossed a minor pass on the Damshung plain, a dozen members of a nomad family would immediately come to us, some trying to sell prayer sheets, others just curious. I could find no piece of clothing or accessories on them that remotely suggest 20th or 21st centuries. Nam Tso is located in the Chang Tang (northern high plain) at an elevation of 4700 m./ 15,400 ft., it is the world's highest large lake. The lake's colors are a mesmerizing torquoise blue, softened by golden tones from the warm sun of early afternoon. Our driver's wife came along to accompany him on this outing, and they set out to circumambulate the rocky hill at Tashi Dorje peninshula. These rocks have some 100 ft./30 m. high, ruged cliffs, but locals have apparently climbed up there to decorate it with many prayer flags. Snow-capped Nyainchen Tanglha Range were not in their full glory due to clouds, nontheless the serenity of the vast sea-like lake surrounded by wide open verdant pastures and snowy peaks diminishing into the distance are indescribable.