23. Jasmine

As the plane descended into the Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, Jasmine pressed her face against the small oval window, eager to catch her first glimpse of Tibet. The landscape below was breathtaking, a patchwork of rugged mountains, pristine lakes, and vast expanses of grassland stretching out as far as the eye could see.

She felt excitement as the plane touched down on the runway, bouncing a little before rolling to a stop. They had finally arrived in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, and the starting point of their incredible journey.

They had waited for more than a week as Kian and Kevin, aka Kalugal, Turner, Shai, and others, had worked tirelessly to make all the arrangements for them, with Mia"s mate footing the bill for the expedition.

Jasmine couldn"t even start to imagine how much money had gone into the mission and how much time everyone involved had put into the preparations, and it was all because of her.

Talk about pressure.

If she failed them, she would be crushed.

"Come on, beautiful." Edgar pulled out their carry-ons from the overhead compartment. "Let the adventure begin."

She smiled up at him. "My adventure began in Cabo and has been gathering momentum ever since."

As the group deplaned and made their way through the airport, the air-conditioned terminal provided a temporary respite from the thin, crisp air outside, but Jasmine knew that she would soon feel the effects of the high altitude. Lhasa was one of the highest cities in the world at nearly twelve thousand feet.

In the luggage area, a man holding a sign with the name of their fake research team was waiting for them.

He was tall and slender, with a warm smile and kind eyes. As they approached him, he greeted them with a traditional Tibetan welcome: "Tashi delek. I am Tenzin Dorjee, your guide. Welcome to Lhasa, the city of sunshine and the heart of Tibet."

Margo grinned at Tenzin. "Tashi delek! We"re so excited to be here. I"ve been reading about Lhasa on the plane and can"t wait to explore the city."

Tenzin smiled back at her. "I"m sure you will love it here. Lhasa is an extraordinary place, with a rich history and culture unlike anywhere else in the world." He put the sign away and pulled a bunch of white scarves from his satchel. "These are called khatas," he said as he draped the white silk scarves around each of their necks. "They are a symbol of goodwill and respect."

After collecting their luggage, they followed Tenzin to the waiting minibus that would take them to their hotel in the city center.

Looking out the window, Jasmine marveled at the unique architecture of the buildings they were passing. Many houses and shops were painted in vibrant colors and adorned with intricate designs and patterns, presenting a perfect blend of traditional Tibetan style and modern influences.

As the minibus stopped in front of the luxurious St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Jasmine was impressed by the unique beauty of the building. It was designed in the style of a traditional Tibetan palace, with sweeping curves, ornate carvings, and a grand central courtyard.

"Wow," Ella breathed as she stepped out of the minibus. "This place is incredible. I feel like royalty just standing here."

Julian chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You are my queen, so you should be treated as one."

After checking in, they headed to their rooms for a quick bathroom break, and then they regrouped in the lobby to begin their tour of Lhasa.

The objective was to spend a couple of days in the capital so Jasmine would get acclimatized to the high altitude before starting their travels. Still, everyone who hadn"t been to Tibet before was pleased to have the excuse to see the city.

"The first stop is the iconic Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lamas and the symbol of Tibetan Buddhism," Tenzin said.

As they approached the massive structure, Jasmine was struck by its sheer size and grandeur. The palace towered over the city, its white and red walls gleaming in the bright sunlight.

Tenzin led them up the many steps to the entrance. "The Potala Palace was built in the seventh century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo," he explained as they climbed. "It has served as the residence of the Dalai Lamas since the seventeenth century and is now a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site."

They explored the many rooms and halls of the palace, with its rich colors and intricate designs of the murals and tapestries that adorned the walls; the air was thick with the scent of incense and the soft murmur of chanting monks.

After the Potala Palace, they visited the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred temple in Tibet. The place was bustling with activity, with pilgrims from all over Tibet and beyond coming to pay their respects and offer prayers.

"King Songtsen Gampo also built the Jokhang Temple," Tenzin said. "It was erected to house a sacred Buddha statue brought to Tibet by his Chinese wife, Princess Wencheng."

Walking through the temple complex, they passed pilgrims prostrating themselves on the ground, their foreheads touching the stone floor as they murmured prayers and mantras.

"The temple is the spiritual heart of Lhasa and the most important pilgrimage site in Tibet," Tenzin explained.

Their final stop for the day was the lively Barkhor Street, a bustling marketplace and pilgrim circuit surrounding the Jokhang Temple. The narrow, winding streets were lined with stalls selling everything from colorful prayer flags and traditional Tibetan clothing to yak butter tea and momos, a kind of dumpling that made Jasmine"s mouth water.

"How are you feeling?" Edgar asked. "Is the altitude bothering you?"

Jasmine chuckled. "I was so busy sightseeing that I forgot about it."

"Good." He squeezed her hand. "So, you are not dizzy or anything?"

"No, I"m good."

Smiling, Gabi leaned to whisper in her ear, "Don"t get adjusted too quickly. I want at least another day here, and if you are good to go, Aru might push up the timeline."

"Got it." Jasmine gave her the thumbs up.

Given the smirk lifting Aru"s lips, he"d heard their exchange, but he was pretending that he hadn"t.

As they wandered through the market taking in the sights, sounds, and smells, Jasmine thought about the journey ahead of them, and she wasn"t eager to begin it. It wasn"t because she was worried about the discomfort of camping or the rigors of the trek—not even the lack of a daily shower.

It was the fear of failure.

Negal and Margo stopped by one of the stalls and started haggling with a vendor over a beautiful, hand-woven rug. Jasmine and Edgar joined Julian, Ella, Frankie, and Dagor in sampling yak butter tea.

"This is an acquired taste." Frankie wrinkled her nose. "But when in Tibet, right?"

Dagor chuckled and took another sip. "It"s not so bad once you get used to it. And it"s supposed to be good for you, especially at high altitudes."

"It"s disgusting," Ella whispered. "Is there anywhere I can pour it out without anyone noticing? I don"t want to offend anyone."

Julian took the cup from her. "I"ll take one for the team." He drank half of the liquid before returning the mug to the vendor.

Jasmine smelled the tea and decided to pass on it as well. "I hope they serve regular food at the hotel. I"m hungry and afraid to sample the local fare and suffer the consequences."

"We should head back soon," their tour guide said. "And yes, you will be happy with the cuisine at the hotel."

Jasmine felt her cheeks redden. She"d thought he hadn"t heard her.

That evening, as they gathered for dinner in the hotel"s elegant dining room, Aru invited Tenzin to join them so he could share more details about what lay ahead.

"Tomorrow, we will continue the tour of the city, and the day after that, we will take a short flight to Gunsa Airport in Ali Prefecture. From there, we will have two drivers pick us up and take us to Darchen, the starting point for our trek."

She leaned toward Edgar. "Is Tenzin joining us on the search?"

Edgar shook his head. "Not likely. I"m sure that Aru will take care of this."

Meaning he would thrall the guide and leave him behind whenever it was possible.