Always prevent yourself from getting excited or laughing out loud when you're in Tibet. That's what all my friends and colleagues told me before my Tibetan journey. Because of the scarcity of oxygen on the high plateau, excitement can easily turn into breathing problems.

But I still could not help feeling thrilled the moment I stepped out of Lhasa Gonga Airport, not only because coming to Tibet was one of my many dreams, but also because my first impressions surpassed my dreams. There were mountains after mountains and white clouds floating so low you'd think you could pick one up standing on top of a mountain. Under the bright sunshine, shadows of clouds reflected on a hillside, creating grey patches on green slopes. I finally started to understand why Tibetans sing of their home as paradise and why white, blue and green are among the most used colors in Tibetan artworks.

After two days of sleep and sleeplessness in a hotel room, I considered myself fully recovered from altitude sickness and decided a walk around the streets of Lhasa would freshen me up.

Though a tourist city, most of the people walking on Lhasa's streets are still local Tibetans, dressed in traditional outfits so that one can spot them immediately. Street signs are mostly bilingual in Tibetan and Mandarin and some shops have English signs, too.

Situated in the heart of the old section of the city, Barkhor Street is said to be the best place to buy ethnic crafts and souvenirs. Sounds of bargaining can be heard here and there, but generally speaking, I think vendors here are not as aggressive when it comes to selling compared to other tourist cities. An elderly lady sits beside her stall watching tourists passing by, as if they're just part of a painting that she's enjoying while basking under the sun. Another vendor is napping in his booth.

I have yet to visit the Potala Palace, though a distant look already makes me intoxicated, nor the Jokhang and Drepung Temples and everything else. The better days of my trip are still ahead, and I have to remind myself not to get too jumpy.

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Xiaohua