The
day started at six forty-five when
the shrill ringing of the phone announced
the wake-up call. Groggily I got out
of bed while Jess answered the phone.
The hotel where we were staying was
beautiful: comfy beds, picturesque
views and good food. I had only one
complaint, the showers had a bit of
attitude. I had to start and restart
it so many times that it reminded me
of a finicky old car.
After showering, dressing, and doing other necessary
morning things, the group gathered downstairs for breakfast.
Having eaten a satisfying meal of toast, rice gruel,
noodles, steamed dough, and warm milk we headed out to
the bus that would take us to Jade Dragon Stone Mountain.
The bus ride was long, but we had plenty of things to
occupy our time, the main two being playing cards and
looking out at the view. I never stop getting a kick
out of looking out the window and knowing I'm looking
at China. The area that we were driving to today reminded
me of African plains, with the trees and grass stretching
only to be interrupted by soaring snow-capped mountains.
To get to the bottom of the mountain we rode a chair
lift over the trees to the base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
We were disappointed to discover that we weren't going
to be hiking the mountain itself but rather the valley
below it. Going for a walk is actually a better term
than hiking. Nevertheless, the view was breathtaking
and exhilarating. Even though I spent the entire hour
and a half of walking taking pictures of mountains, nothing
could really capture how enormous and magnificent they
were, and how tiny and awestruck they made me feel. During
our walk we stopped at a Tibetan Buddhist temple. There
we were able to make donations and in return receive
silk prayer scarves. Also all along the walk were vendors
selling hats, jewelry, yak meat and more yak meat.
After we were done with the walk we took the bus to the
airport where we caught a flight back to Kunming. Once
there we checked into our hotel and then turned to the
thing that was foremost in our minds: dinner. At dinner
we were briefed on our homestays that begin tomorrow
(yikes!).
The thing that will stay with me most from today is this
one scene. Everywhere we go, the boys in our group play
hacky sack. Today was no exception. They started playing
after the walk. And as soon as they were in their circle
kicking the ball around, a little Chinese child wandered
into their midst. Instead of stopping the game or accidentally
hitting the child as I was afraid might happen, they
played with her, trying to include her in the fun. It
struck me as a fragile and precious moment. I know it
may sound corny but it seemed to represent the friendships
that are growing between our new Chinese friends and
us, between our two countries.
Then we took the cable car up to the Yak Meadow of Jade
Dragon Snow Mountain.
Mr. Mosley writes:
My visit to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
was exciting and uplifting. As I ascended to the top of
the
mountain,
I
was mesmerized by the view of the snow covered mountains,
the trees, and the animals (Yaks, goats, mules etc). The
indigenous people to the region, Naxi minorities were quite
friendly to us and eager to sell and have us sample some
Yak meat and other Naxi’s products.
When I finally reached the top of the mountain, I had an
opportunity of a life time. That is, I visited a Buddhist
Temple. Although I did not explore the entire temple, I
did view various photos of the Dahlia Lama and offered
a prayer in his honor. Overall, my visit to Jade Dragon
Snow Mountain was a moving and spiritual experience for
me.
Mr. Mosley at the temple with a Naxi woman.
Yak on a stick, Yak dumplings, and potato-on-a-stick
all served by this lovely young woman.
Being from the Green Mountain State we really enjoyed Jade
Dragon Snow Mountain.
<--Left:
Leaving Lijiang to return to Kunming. We'll miss the
our wonderful guide and driver and the lovely mountains,
but are excited about visiting our friends for
homestays
in Kunming.
