On the first day, we proceeded slowly to the Wudang Mountain. The journey was long and beautiful. A book was my companion for the 1st 4 hours of the journey, gazing through the window offer nothing but mesmerizing stare. Endless spread of yellow flowers accompanied by green fields and farmers working hard. The sight was beautiful, despite the long journey, the real China could be seen through the window of our bus. Ordinary people working hard, under the sun, under the weather, to put food on the table. Dusk begin blowing down, but the weather remain, kind and gentle. A polo and jeans was enough to withstand the weather.
Dinner followed, the timing could not have been better. Through my stay here in China, the vegetables have been awesome, when or where I ate, the vegetables were fresh and yummy. The day seems to be alright as the accommodation was as lovely as the yellow flowers that flow on the fields as we made our way to the hotel. Yet again I was rather disappointed as I was wishing to stay at a hotel located at a higher altitude and with a balcony to gaze upon the melting sunrise. Through out this trip I have not taken any photographs of a sunrise, it is all sunsets and more sunsets, even a sunset in black & white. The night soon ended, rooms assignment and off to our room, surprisingly despite the location of the town, the hotel was rather okay, the comfortability level definitely exceeded my expectation. With the night still young and wild, we took a walk, through the town, into alleys and explored the streets that perhaps many famous men and women have walked and have been seen as they proceed up to the Wudang Mountain. The shops were closed, it was lined with lights, it was like Christmas here in China. The darkness seems to compliment the lights the flow through the town, it was like Harbin here in Hubei, just for the weather, a little colder and welcome to Harbin. It was getting late, we have to wake up early, it was time to sleep. The room was comfortable, the usual ritual of showering and washing up followed, the night ended as the lights were turned off. The mountain awaits. . . . .
The alarm was the 1st to be heard as my eyelids lifted to welcome the new day, the room was cold. The heater seems to be useless, BUT the main reason is perhaps the window that was left open all night, enter the cold wind of the night, the cold invadew the room. The morning was cold, the usual morning woohar, breakfast then proceeded at 7, buffet. The noodle seems to be showered and soak in oil, it was super oily and the plate was filled with this gold transparent liquid. It was time, the long awaited journey begins, a 5 mins bus ride to the station, followed by an hour of waiting time, lots of drama were seen from the China people, the impatience of the people seems to be written all over their faces. The wait was alright, photographs were taken and the usual joking and chit-chatting was fun and humorous, time simply flew.
Our turn came we headed up, the road was filled with turns, the view from the window was gorgeous. Imagine those Chinese paintings filled with mountains, that was what Wudang mountain offered. The formation and the wave of Mother Nature's wand cast a spell and creating beautiful mountains to admire and preserve. The 2 bus rides was filled with amazing scenery as we arrive at the cable car station. What followed was a 2 hour wait filled with drama and disgust. The art of cutting lines and heading to the front is perfected here in China, even the younger generations are masters in it. We had to work together, forming a barricade and not allow those disgusting individual to cut into our queue, it was a team effort. The wait ended 2 hours later, we headed into the cable cars, 2 per car. Jian Wen and myself took the journey up. The ride was steep, the cable car seems to be old and dangerous, but the view was stupendous. I was wondering what would like trekking up to the mountain, I wish I have done it and save 115 RMB, as the walk would have been filled with adventure together with lots of amazing things to photograph. Despite all that, the ride was fun. as the view from the top provided an eye opener of the landscape that is home to Tai Ji. No complaints, it was beautiful. We arrive safe and sound, the adventure begins. . . .
We headed to the peak at 1612 meters, the walk up those stairs was filled with lots sights and sounds of majestic beauty, the architecture of the temples was servery complimented by the age of the place, the rich history of the mountain and the power of man. I was a little bumped, as I was looking forward to see some Taoist Zealots practicing martial arts and meditating, but all they were interested was collecting money. Perhaps we were too late, or the wrong time. But on a whole the place was extremely commercial. We climb the countless of steps, but it was worth it, the peak of Wudang Mountain lies a golden temple, with extremely detailed marble designs and beautiful Taoist symbolism. It was simply worth it to walk up the steep steps and viewing the amazing view the mountain offered. The walk down was hard and painful as our Wudang journey ended, time really flies when it is filled with amazing shots to photograph and scenery that is always remembered. We went down the same way we came down, lunch followed, it was a rather late lunch, thank goodness there was breakfast, if not. . .IMAGINE.
Lunch was accompanied by hordes of investing flies that buzz around like they own the place. If there was a dollar for every wave of our hand to chase those pest away, I would be quite rich. Yet again the vegetables were very nice, the food was alright, it is just the flies that probably may have ruin my lunch, but it was all good. We headed next to Tai Ji Bo, or Prince Hill, the location was at a lower altitude compared to the Wudang Mountains, but it was still pat of it. The garden was surreal, as we made our way to the gate that appears huge and proud. The temples were craved with amazing sculptures depicting Taoist ideology. The beautiful sunset gave the place an awesome and dramatic composition that really complimented to the rich history of the place. The place really gave me an understanding and respect to the Chinese people, as they take their religion seriously even through the test of time, the temple is maintain, worshipers coming in, praying for faith and hope. It was really an amazing spectacle to awe upon.
The sun is setting over the mountains, the last bus is upon us, it is time to chase. It was time to leave the place where peace, serenity and a deep love and respect for religion binds deep into the mountains of Wudang. The journey ended was bitter sweet, as we head to our next hotel, it was a 2 hour drive to it. The journey was filled with mingling and jokes, time flew. Soon we arrive at this boutique hotel. It was rather cool, the room was comfortable and comes with an open show shower, it was rather interesting, but a little inconvenient for some. The day was rather tiring, it was rather late for my meeting with the director of Dream land PTE LTD. It was time. . . An early day tomorrow. . .
When I time . . .the music to my alarm plays, it was time to wake, I wish I could stay at the hotel for just 1 more day, just 1 more. Step by step my feet drags on the floor reluctant to leave the hotel, breakfast at this nearby restaurant, rather simple, egg, buns and dumpling together with a glass of milk. Rather simple rather light but it was nice. We proceeded up to our next destination, to Zhuge Liang's residents. This was perhaps the highlight of the entire 3 days. The place was very big, the garden was filled with trees and flowers that flooded the place. The pinnacle moment for this excursion was the hike up to the pagoda, 700 steps of pure endurance, it was really a tough training for Adidas Sundown. One by one we reach the top, proud and tired, we gaze upon the view from the peak it was beautiful. The pagoda stands proud and tall, overseeing the people that live in city below. The tiring climb up the stairs was physically draining, but it was really worth it. We rested up there for a while, enjoyed the breeze, admiring the landscape of Xiang Yang. We headed back down shortly after. When we arrive on the foot of the hill, an ice cream was what I needed, the ice cream was simply too lovely too beautiful, the sensation of eating a cold ice cream after a long and tiring hike was simple ohhhhhhhh. We headed to a replica house of one of the world's greatest Strategist, Zhuge Liang. The house was simple, peaceful and calming. But it was only a replica. The excursion was over, it was amazing, perhaps one of the best I have been on during the entire course of this trip. Lunch soon followed, the restaurant was rather unique as the wall was filled with pictures of vintage and modern cars. The concept was rather simply, but it was rather nice to dine there. After lunch, a 5 hour journey awaits, lots of fun and games were played, and yes I was seriously and utterly awful for this one game, 4 forfeits for me. But it was fun though.
Time really flew when we were having fun, oh how i miss the hostel, how i miss the bed and how i miss about tadpoles secret(the quilt that is my sit in the computer room.) Dinner at Houcalier was alright rather cheap, I m gonna miss the cheap and awesome steak when I return to Singapore next week. But the night just got wilder and messier, as I went over to the other block to celebrate Jin Rong's 18th birthday. It was pure fun, creams flew all over the room, fashion shows that spells fun and shame and cleaning up was no fun. The mess was so bad that I had to take another shower, oh the cream. What a mess. The dya spent was fun an amazing, the 20 of us simply enjoyed every moment of it.
That concludes 3 days in Wudang Mountain. Pictures will be uploaded soon.
Watching Liverpool and Chelseas match now, and Liverpool is losing 3-1, at ANFIELD, this sucks
But anyway cheers and lets never postpone joy
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where are all the photos?
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