D2 Arrival in 拉萨 & acclimatisation

西藏之旅13-22June2025

Good morning!

We rested well and will be headed for the next destination soon.

Had done some homework (not sure if all might work, but no harm trying) before the trip:-

👉We had taken 红景天 2 weeks prior the trip

👉Not do strenuous exercise at least 48 hours before trip

👉To adjust to the altitude, try to go out for walks to get used to the low-oxygen environment

👉It will be better not to bath on the first day in case our oxygen level drops

Altitude sickness usually happens at levels above 2,500m. As we know, the altitude in Lhasa is 3,650m or more. Altitude being the lowest among the places we will visit during the trip, Lhasa will be where we will stay for 3 days for our bodies to adjust before heading to higher levels.

While adjusting, look out for AMS symptoms like headache, loss of appetite or nausea/vomiting, and sleep problems.

Simple breakfast provided by the hotel.

On the way from 8.30 am

Jaa ne.. 重庆

Our flight to 拉萨 at 11am.

Looking at the chops.. the customs officer did not seem pleased that we were heading there.

We upgraded our seats for 150yuan each so that we can be more comfortable for the next 2hrs55mins.

We know we were arriving when we see mountains

~2 pm as we arrived.

A beautiful welcome at the airport.

"Tashi Delek" is a Tibetan phrase primarily used as a greeting,

but also to express congratulations or good wishes.

Response back should be "Tashi Delek, shu" (fourth sound)

The Saga Dawa Festival is a month-long Buddhist festival celebrated in June in Tibet, so expect some local crowd when visiting monasteries.

Waited more than an hour for people from another flight to arrive, and finally leaving by 4pm.

As we were walking out of the airport, we already felt breathless and had to walk slowly.

It'll take about an hour to the hotel.. really loving those sights we start to see.

Surprised they have flats here.. we later found out these were newly built hostels.

On the bus.

Still feeling not too bad although oxygen level was already lowered to 85.

(at home it was 99%, and normal reading should be 95% and above)

We were brought to the hotel in 拉萨 and told to take a rest.

There will not be any activity for the rest of the day, as we had to rest and adjust to the altitude.

新鼎大酒店

Our first view of the Potala

Out for dinner around 5.50 pm.

The 3 of us had started to feel headache and still breathless easily as we walk and talk.

A tcm near our hotel

Exploring before choosing what to eat.

I didn't feel very well with the panting (worry oxygen level too low),

so thought I should standby some local oxygenated drink (that Noi took before).

I asked which is most effective and the staff recommended taking 氧安诺,

together with 2 sticks of glucose, so I bought.

We decided to try Beef noodles.

Delicious beef noodles but we did not have a good appetite, and cannot eat much.

So we shared the food we ordered.

Heading back straight after dinner to rest, at 7 pm.

Still not dark, we had long daylight this period and sunset will be around 9pm.

Cute traffic light there.

Before bed, I measured and my oxygen was really low at 73 & BP 89.

So I decided to take the 氧安诺 and 2 sticks of glucose,

and went to sleep without bathing (only wiped body and face).

Improved after taking the oxygenated drink

Couldn't sleep well at all that night.

I felt itchy in back and felt hot at night, tossed and turned the whole night.

Also had a terrible headache when woke at 4am, took panadol and still cannot sleep.