October 10, 2009
Sometimes vacations can set you back (still well worth it). I worked an 8 day work week (including Sunday) to get 8 days off for the holiday. The day after I arrived home I was back at work and beginning my new schedule which is packed with classes. For instance on Friday I had to make up classes that were missed Thursday because of the holiday. I had 4 1st grade classes with 40 students in each class. Followed by two classes with my 4th graders. Then on Saturday I had to make up for other classes missed as well. My apartment is in shambles. I have a stack of clean laundry that needs ironed before putting away and am very tired. Fortunately, I will have Sunday and Monday off to catch up.
Over the holiday I went with my roommate, Andrea, to Huang Shan, which literally translates to Yellow Mountain. It was a 5.5 hour bus ride from Shanghai. We spent our 1st day hiking up the Western Steps. Everyone thought it was a little strange we wanted to hike up that trail as most people go up on shorter trails and then take the cable car. Not us, thousands of stone steps, 9 miles, 2,000 hellos from Chinese hikers, and 6.5 hours later, in the dark, we reached our destination on the summit. I thought it would be charming to hike up with an 8 pound bottle of wine to savor at the top. Not so pleasant, but it was definitely earned after the hike. That night we stayed in a dorm style room with about 8 Chinese women who woke up at about 4:00 AM to watch the sun rise. We did not have much of an option since lodging is expensive and limited on the summit.
The decision to take the cable car back down to the base was simple. From there we went to a Best Western. It was so wonderful to climb in the bed. The softest mattress I have experienced since in China (beside my visit to Ikea). After a quick nap we headed to the hot springs where we spent the whole day. Many of the pools were infused with medicinal oils such as milk, alcohol, wine, and flowers. Once our skin couldn’t prune anymore we went inside for a foot and leg massage. We finished the night off at a little restaurant where we sat alone outside in the silence of the mountains.
We had arranged a driver to pick us up at the hotel the next morning and take us around to two villages. The villages were very beautiful and authentic. They date back hundreds of years. People still live in the villages, but they are not as prosperous as they once were. The 1st village provided us with an English tour guide which was nice to actually learn how Feng Shui works and what some pictures represent as well as symbols. The whole village was built around this mentality. The layout of the village represents a Yin Yang with the river dividing the two halves. Everything was built in balance. Water represents money. Through the use of dams, water enters the city but does not exit. The water is directed to flow along side each building. It represents money coming into the city and staying. It also prevents the spread of fires. Dragons, fish, and flowers were carved into wood panels, displayed on roofs, and painted above doors. These are all said to bring good luck.
This was truly an experience like none other I have had before. It is good to be back in Shanghai now, as it is my new home.
