Itinerary

We are in a holding pattern for a few days until the TAR travel permit comes through. The plan is this:

• A few days around Shanghai (including short trips to Suzhou, Nanjing, and so forth);
• 10 days in Xizhang Province (Tibet);
• 36 hours on the Tibet-Qinghai train from Lhasa to Xi'an;
• A few days in Xi'an; and finally,
• A few days in Chengdu or Shanghai (we have some votes for pandas and some votes for shopping).

Right now, my biggest concern is the cold I have had for three weeks and what will happen when my brain goes from 0 to 14,000 feet when the plane door opens in Lhasa.