Bamboo Forest

Today was an excellent day of adventuring! This is the first time since we have arrived in China that we have been outside of the city and explored the countryside. Not only did we see the hills of tea plants, we journeyed through a bamboo forest and climbed the never ending stairs. What awaits at the top of the massive hill one only knows and to find out you must continue reading (or scroll down and ruin the surprise, but who does that). 

To get to this breathtaking area we had to take two buses. As the landscape gradually changed from city buildings to rolling hills covered in tea plants, our excitement reached new heights. Instead of being let off at a crowded bus stop we were literally left at the side of the road, which happened to be directly in front of a tea field. The misty hillsides of the country provides the perfect atmosphere for growing tea, and is one of China's and Hangzhou's largest markets. The tea plants are all planted by hand, and the leaves are also harvested by hand. Usually tea farms are a family run business and the same families have been doing it for centuries. After taking some pictures in the field we crossed the road to the entrance of the bamboo path.

The change from city to country was great! As we walked into the park I filled my lungs with the fresh, clean, earthy air and soaked up everything I saw. There was a mist that lay about the area and only increased as we moved up the hill. Along the way we were distracted by a suspension bridge that swung quite easily to our amusement. Many pictures ensued and some of us practiced our karate kid skills. 

Eventually we found our way to the never ending staircase that wound its way up the hill. The beginning of the stairs had a shrine to Buddha and a stand that was full of candle wax. Lorena and I were left behind by the rest of the group and I took the role of motivational step climber. Lorena has asthma so we took it slower and the Eye of the Tiger may have been sung on the way up. If anyone needs a professional motivational singer just let me know ;) As we climbed, the mist grew thicker and the bamboo changed to trees. Because of the mist, the forest took on a very interesting eerie beauty that made ​​one feel like they would be ambushed by ninjas at any moment. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, we were not ambushed and made ​​it to the top of the stairs and to the Zhenji Temple. 

As I walked up to the temple I felt as if I had stepped into another world. This place felt old and you could hear the whispers of ancient memories long forgotten. A large tree surrounded by a green gate held small glass bottles filled with small rolls of paper and a flower or leaf. On the papers are written wishes or good fortunes for the year ahead. Another tree was decorated in red ribbon that had writing of well wishes. 

There must be a family that cares for the temple, because there was a fire going in a pit in the corner when you first enter. They had a small room where you could buy drinks and other goodies.  Through a wall on the left was a garden area with a courtyard that had a round half stone painted red and set on a stone slab at the far end. In  another room there were creepy looking mannequins dressed in fancy robes and Buddha statuettes hanging out on the right side of the room. After getting the goose bumps, I did not stick around that room long and we left shortly after. As we made ​​our way back down a gentle rain began to fall, but was not too noticeable in the trees. 

And so ends another magnificent adventure. I wish you all a good night and lots of love from China! I'll see you when I see you