Traveling to Tibet? Read This Before You Leave for Vacation!

I recently had the chance to travel to Lhasa, Tibet for a few days, and was surprised at how little had been published on the city or traveling there. I hope that anyone who travels to China gets a chance to experience Tibet, and these are a few gems of knowledge that I, and my group, found helpful to our stay. Obviously some tips for international travel are just assumed; don't drink the water, don't flash your cash, don't try to drive on your own J, but these are extra things that I am grateful to have known, or wish I had.

1. Do not underestimate the altitude!! They sell oxygen containers in the airport for a reason. Never having experienced high altitude before, I assumed that I wouldn't have any problems, and I was wrong. Drink as much water and get as much rest the night before, and on the plane ride. Many members of my group took the new altitude sickness medicine, and benefited from it. We were advised to leave our windows open an inch or two at night to keep high levels of oxygen in our room.
2. Don't schedule anything arduous for the first day! Everyone felt better in the morning, until we climbed the steps of the Potala Palace. This amazing place should be enjoyed to the fullest, and one cannot appreciate the Dalai Lama tombs, countless ancient books, and statues if your head is spinning a mile a minute.
3. Everywhere in the city for a taxi is ten yuan. Our tour guide told us this, and it's very helpful because the drivers spoke very little English. Make sure they actually know where they're going (have your destination written out in Chinese before you leave), otherwise they'll drive aimlessly, stopping to ask directions wherever you go (Lhasa isn't that big, but this is still unnerving to feel lost!) Don't let yourself be overcharged.
4. Watch out for begging children. Many kids were much more aggressive than in the rest of China, with one actually tackling my knees when I stepped out of a shop. It's a personal decision to give or not to give, but either way try not to squash.
5. If in doubt, it is yak. This was one of the funniest parts of the adventure; from what we were eating to what we were buying everything was in some way associated with the yak. Depending on how it was prepared, I thought the meat was delicious. The butter tea combined with the altitude sickness was too terrifying for me, but now that I'm home I wish I had tried it! For anyone who goes there and is yak-phobic, a friend & I did find a cozy little Traveler's Café in the Bankor (main marketplace) that served American style food that actually tasted good. It was on one of the side streets, by travel agencies, and was well worth the hunt!
6. Try to learn a few words in Tibetan. We were subtly advised that speaking Chinese to Tibetans wasn't always the best way to go. Ask for a couple words in Tibetan, and try them out! I believe (written phonetically) "Whey" meant hello, but I would double check before shouting it through the streets.
7. Soak it all in. Just traveling on the bus to Lhasa was amazing; the landscapes are breathtaking just along the high way. Everything looks completely different from the rest of China, and if you blink you could miss a jaw droppingly intricate hairstyle adorned with braids and beads, a wandering yak, a beautiful painting or carving on the side of the road, or the chance to speak with another foreigner, or a friendly Tibetan. I wish that I could have stayed longer, and hope that I can return again soon. Don't miss the Jokhang Temple, even though it is intimidating to enter. People may push and shove you out of the way, but the experience was beyond words.