Newest, Highest Railway!

I'll start with the train ride. We checked into the top bunk (3rd level) of the new Qinghai-Tibet Railway. What a great ride... we passed frozen lakes, desert moonscapes, undulating plains, various cities and villages each a world away from the last. All to the punctuated voiceover in Chinese and American-trained English, beginning "Dear passengers and friends...." and going to to big-up the achievements of the railway and the virtues of the scenery. For instance, the local herdsmen of Tibet were so joyous at the "tranquility that was broken for the first time in 1000 years" by the train whistle that they decorated the train in ribbons of "celebration and curiosity"! So many landscapes, some quick and some never-ending. I am glad to be off even though it was cool.