Sitting on top of the world (preparations, part 2)

OK, what's happened lately? Because I didn't get the necessary invitation to Russia which is needed for a visum I decided to skip Russia and go straight to Asia. So last week I went to a travel agency to get some information about plane tickets. The problem was that I wasn't sure where to fly to. The best way to go to Tibet, which is my first goal, is to fly to Katmandu, Nepal and take the bus or plane from there. But as you probably all know, at the moment there are rows there and there is a negative travel advise. So this leaves Katmandu out for getting to Tibet. Then I thought I could fly to Delhi, India and make my way to Tibet from there. But only Indian people can get into Tibet from India. So it has to be China. The advantage of thet is that it is also easier with the visum. According to the Lonely Planet you can fly to Katmandu or Beijng and from there to Tibet. But Beijing is at the other end of China and Chendu is nearer by Tibet. So the flight is not as long and it is cheaper. That's why I decided to fly to Chengdu. The first affordable ticket is at 21 June, two weeks later than I wanted to leave. Also I found out that the train to Tibet starts running 1 July, but is booked full already. That leaves that option out.
The next problem I faced is how to get a visum. There's two ways to get one. You can either go to The Hague for asking and picking it up. Two times to The Hague at the other side of Holland is not really an option. The second way is via a visumagency. Of course they charge some money, but it is still four times as cheap as traveling to The Hague twice. If only this was the last problem. Also the visum is valid for only one month and I want to travel in China (read Tibet) at least two months. On the internet though I found a company that can get you a visum for more than one month. But you have to book a round trip with this company to Tibet. And that's not what I want.
So today I went back to the travel agency. I told them what I found out. The first flight they found was also 21 June, and cheaper than the one I found. The only problem was that they could not arrange a visum for me. I got an option and went to another agency. At first they only found a flight more expensive than the last one. But they could arrange a visum for me. And for three months as well. To make a long story short, after three hours or so I had my flight ticket, for the same price as at the other agency, I had the application papers filled in for the visum (in the mean time I had some passport photo's taken as well) and I have a hotel room booked for the first three nights in Chendu.

SO, 21 JUNE I'M FLYING TO CHENGDU, CHINA. From there it's going to be the bus or plane. I prefer the bus, because you can see the scenery. But, another one, the rainseason has probably started by then and the roads might be difficult to drive. Sometimes, according to the Lonely Planet again, it may even mean delays for days or a return to where you started. Also in history it's not anusual thing for Tibetan people to send foreigners back the way they came. Even when they were almost in Lhasa or when it meant the likely death of these travelers.
Another problem I'm going to face to get into Tibet is that the Chinese don't like single travelers to go there and that you need a TTB permit. You can only get it in in China, and when you are traveling in a group. I'm not going to worry about that untill I'm in Chengdu. There might be other travelers with the same goal and we can stick together.