Hangzhou - Day 6

Wow, what a day. I'm finally able to log onto the Internet to update my blog and it's after 11 p.m. here in Shanghai. Terri and I started our morning early in the city of Hangzhou. We had to be packed (ugh!) and ready to go by 7:45 a.m. in order to take a tour of West Lake. Our fearless tour guide, Jimmy, said that when President Nixon first visited China he went to Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. (just like us!) And, supposedly, after President Nixon saw the West Lake he said "beautiful lake, poor city." Of course, after all these year, Hangzhou isn't all poor. There is a great commercialized area with extreme wealth. But that is not the majority. There is also extreme poverty still there today. And it, from what little I've seen, is more common.

But (going back to Nixon's quote) if that is really what Nixon said, I would agree - beautiful lake! And what makes it even more spectacular is the beauty that surrounds it. The trees are beautiful and in the back drop of the lake are mountains. When we were on the boat the fog was just beginning to lift and it was an incredible sight. There is an area that we cruised by where there are three stone pagodas in the water. Jimmy (the tour guide) said that when they celebrate the Moon Festival that they put candles in the pagoda. The pagoda in enclosed and there are little windows around it. At night with the candle light pouring through the circular shaped holes and the moon beaming down there are a total of 32 "moons" reflected on the water. I'm sure that would be a fabulous site to see.

So after leaving West Lake they took us to a tea plantation where we learned all about the process of growing, harvesting, drying, and properly consuming tea. The tea plantation they took us to was located in a valley ... it was breathtaking. When we arrived we learned a little about the tea plant itself and then we went to a room where a gentleman who studied tea in college (yes, that's what he said - tea was his major) and he showed us how to drink it. Apparently you should use only loose tea leaves (tea in bags would be the equivalent of drinking instant coffee versus Kona beans freshly ground). You should not boil the water, just make it really hot and pour into your glass. Let it set for at least two minutes. Then enjoy. If someone is making and serving you tea - in China it is custom to thank that person by using your first two fingers and tap on the table three times.

I have to explain one of the pictures I've posted. At the tea plantation, there was a bulletin board full of postcards. Of course I put one on the bulletin board as well - so now, maybe that picture makes sense.

After the tea plantation, we ate lunch then went to a Buddhist temple. That was interesting. The first time I had ever been to a Buddhist temple. This temple was built near the carving of a limestone mountain of several Buddhas. The carving date back 1600 years. It's amazing to see something so old that has existed for all this time. To think it was there during all of that history and through so many changes in our world and yet it still remains the same. It is really a site to see. The temple itself is composed of several halls or structures that house other Buddhas ... I'm really not familiar with this religion and need to read more about what it is that I saw ... I do know that I so broke the rules today! There are signs everywhere indicating to NOT take pictures and of course there are people who are there to monitor and make sure all rules are being followed. Well, I just had to get a picture and I saw others doing it (slyly of course) so I decided to join in. I posted two of the pictures.

At this temple it is mostly tourists ... but there are people there who come to pray and burn incense. All I can say is it is a little different ... Ok VERY different ... than the Baptist religion that I practice.

So, after our tour we loaded the bus and three hours later we were in Shanghai. This is actually the last leg of our journey! We arrived here only to sit in traffic (reminds me of home). We finally made it to our dinner destination. You can imagine how difficult it is to get around when you consider that there are 16 million people (not including visitors) who are in Shanghai. It is hard for me to wrap my mind around that number of people in one city.

After dinner we were taken to the Shanghai Bund (that mean bank, as in river bank). What a spectacular site! I have to first explain - the city of Shanghai is less than 100 years old. It was originally a fishing village. In fact the name Shanghai mean "go fish." So on one side of the bank ... or as they say here ... bund, is the old (like 100 year old) buildings (which are beautiful). And across the river is the picture of new Shanghai (built circa 1994)... It is almost like Disneyland to me. Really is something to see, but I'm not sure if I like it ...

Anyway, I'm heading to bed! It's late. I think I have a little free time tomorrow and I hope to post more pictures and take more time to jot down some thoughts, impressions, observations, etc., that I have and don't want to forget.

Good night ... oh, wait, I guess it's morning for you ...