Heading west out of Lhasa, with the twin peaks of Karachowo and Karchomo in the distance. (They represent a husband and wife in some Tibetan story.)

Looking over a slender blue arm of Yamdroktso Lake from the peak of Mt. Kangbala, at almost 5000 meters. Damn you, clouds!

A perfect pastoral setting somewhere near the Yongla Pass on the way to Gyantse.

Heading down from Yongla Pass towards Gyantse as the sun sets.

Our awesome Tibetan driver, Sonam. During the 5-day round trip journey from Lhasa to Everest he and his 18-year old Land Cruiser treated us very well.

If someone told you to jump off a cliff would you do it? Actually, this sign points to the place where Tibetans fighting the British in Gyantse in 1904 jumped to their deaths rather than surrender.

The view from the top of Gyantse's fortress, looking down over the town.

Looking up at Gyantse's fortress from the bottom, near the Anti-British Imperialism Museum.

The unique stylings of the Kumbum Pagoda at Palchoi Monastery in Gyanste, built in the early 15th century.

The tourist-friendly photo-op spot marking 5000 kilometers from Shanghai, on the road to Everest.

A friendly Tibetan woman.

Road construction is going on everywhere between Lhasa and Mt. Everest.

Mt. Everest looms in the distance, seen from Bangla Pass a few hours north of base camp.

A Tibetan family posing for tourist dollars at Bangla Pass.

For my father, here's the required self-portrait in front of the Himalayas. The mountain all the way to the left is Everest; the one partially obscured by my big head is Cho Oyu.