Tibet

We took the train , the Admiral's dream come true! Tibet.

If you want to get a feel for an overpopulated world, just try a major Chinese train station. This is Waiting Room #4 at Beijing West station. At times it was standing room only. This is not the best shot, but if one attempted it at major crush time, one could not get the camera raised amidst the throng. It's packed, beyond SRO. Takes your breath away. Its at times like that one wish's for a Rocky Mountain moment. Or Tibetan.

This is your first clue that this train is different. It is THE highest train in the world, peaking at something like 18,500' (5700m). You feel that. All you did was open the hatch and the O2 flowed into the cabin!

This is a very important piece of paper, the Tibet Travel Permit. You must have a guide in Tibet, who takes custody of this document. Oh, and if your name is Richard Gere or Brad Pitt, forget it, it'll never happen, this is the closest you get to seeing a Permit, you losers. It is essential you be a nobody with money, requirements we could handle. We asked if we could have the permit as a souvenir or at least a copy, but the answer was no. Volunteer work in orphanages here in Tibet was on the Admiral's bucket list, but alas, our guide said it was almost 'impossible'.

Well, anyway, enough excitement and suspense - let's board the train!