Jimbro - England

Today we were heading off on a 500 km round trip to see the world's highest saltwater lake. It seems a day in Tibet is not complete unless there has been an adventure of some sort or other.

Shortly after we headed off, at the edge of Lhasa, we stopped at a checkpoint. The way these checkpoints work is that the driver is given a time record and the earliest time he can get to the next checkpoint which means driving at a speed of approximately 60 km per hour. This system was instituted as a result of too many fatal accidents involving both locals and tourists. It is an excellent system because, as we found out when we arrived just 5 minutes earlier than specified, the driver is fined without any discussion or leniency. Our driver was not too happy but this probably won't happen again Namtso Prayer Flags. Perhaps a few more countries should consider implementing this system.

Just to add to the enforcement, there are policemen along the way checking speed using a radar gun. Thankfully we just managed to avoid a fine on the way there and our driver had been warned on the way back so that was positive.

We stopped for lunch before reaching the entrance to the Namtso National Park where we were to have our next adventure. Our guide has a permit from the tourist bureau but, in the interests of financial gain, does not register with another Chinese required body. The difference is he gets RMB 100 per day unregistered or RMB 60 per day registered so not too surprising. Unfortunately this was the day that there were more officials checking permits than usual and, worst of all, half of them were Chinese. Had they been just Tibetan he would have got away with it but in China, rules are followed to the letter so his permit was confiscated while they decide his fate. Thankfully we could still go on to the lake. Finally, after crossing 2 mountain passes and surviving the adventures we got to the lake and oh was it worth it all.

At 4,718 metres above sea level, Namtso Lake, meaning Heavenly Lake, is easily the highest saltwater lake in the world. At about 70 km long and 35 km wide, covering approximately 1,920 square kilometres and with a magnificent snow-capped mountain range in the background it is a truly beautiful place to visit.

Being high on the tourist route means there are many stalls, local restaurants and, should you so wish, the opportunity to ride on horses and Yaks. Thankfully the Tibetans are more friendly than pushy so after a gentle "no thanks" we can either have a conversation of sorts with them or just move on.

Namtso Lake is also one of three holy lakes in Tibet and, as such, is a place many Pilgrims visit and in fact walk all the way around. This takes them around 18 days! For those unable to endure such a trek there is a holy rock which they can walk around. All walking is always done in a clockwise direction. Given the holiness of the lake, there are many prayer flags around the holy rock. As is usual with the Buddhist religion, everything has a meaning so the colours of the prayer flags are significant too: blue for sky, white for clouds, yellow for earth, green for water and red for fire.