Day 7 - Lhasa - the Summer Palace and Gardens

My second full day in Lhasa started out a little lame. First, my guide took me to the National Museum which was more an opportunity for the Tibetans to hock their wares (half of the museum was a souvenir shop) than a true display of national treasures. Next, we went across the street to the Summer Palace and Gardens. The gardens were ill-kept and the residences far from palatial. A highlight, though. was the summer palace of the current Dalai Lama (pictured above). His residence is on the second level and has not been altered since he went into exile (sometime in the 70s?). The place looks like my grandmother's living room - all groovy crushed velvet furniture and tassled curtains. A total blast from the past! I got into a bit of trouble while I was there. While it was very clearly marked that photography was not allowed, I was the sole visitor with no one else around. I thought, "What's the harm?" and started snapping pictures. Suddenly, an alarm sounds and a pair of young Tibetans rush in saying, "Sorry, sorry, no pictures!" They were quite serious making sure the photos were deleted from my camera before I was allowed to leave. Guilty as charged!