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| The map of Mt. Emei, China. |
It really seems like taking ages to start writing the "Part 2", hmmm. Well, the "Part 1" I posted was about Chengdu and Jiuzhai Valley. In fact, it didn't take me long to book the AirAsia ticket to Mt. Emei after back from Chengdu on 30 Oct 2011. The ticket was so much cheaper as it was on promotion for early birds. To go Mt Emei, I needed to do the same thing which was flying to Chengdu then took bus to Mt. Emei ( didn't make it to Mt. Emei the last time in Chengdu as time didn't not allow us to do so - we were focusing on the North route while Mt. Emei is in the South of Chengdu ).
The legend tales of Mt. Emei had attracted me to there ( the reason to visit the sacred mount was surprising not religious enough :) but a very 'fairytale' one, haha! ). To many ancient Chinese, Mt Emei is one of the sacred mountains for Buddhists and Taoists. It has a very interesting story about the numerous temples built on the mountain. One of the legend tales tells that thousands years ago, a man who saw the Buddha sitting on a white elephant up the mountain when he saw a deer and followed it while picking herbal plants at the mountain. Since then, many Buddhist and also Taoist temples were built up there ( To build a building at a mountain?! ). There are other legend tales for Mt. Emei. One of them is about a white snake madam who fell in love with a mortal man ( a famous Chinese legend told in novel and movie ).
It was Mt. Emei's enchanting mystery instead of religion that had made me wanna to pay it a visit. It was my desire to explore and to watch the miraculous scene of the mountain such as the sunrise and clouds sea, the historical architectures built along the mountain by the ancients that had led me to make such decision ( to go there ). I was desperately wanna do a full hiking on the mountain after reading lots of foreigners' comments on the hiking adventures and challenges but alas, at the end of the day, I had to do some changes on my plan due to time factor and weather. Although I was not able to do a full hiking, but the 'baby-styled hiking experience was enough to ease my 'hunger' ( for hiking ) :D I was glad that the environment there had made me drifting in my own 'ancient fantasy world'. There I imagined myself as one of the ancient characters of the wu xia novel ( Kungfu novel ) carrying a bundle( ancient luggage) and a long thin sword, walking strenuously to the peak ( to learn martial arts from a good master ) - half way would stop by the river bank to drink the sparkling clear water to quench thirst and eating mantou ( the white buns)to ease hunger or build a fire and roast a chicken/a fish that caught on the spot or grill sweet potatoes or to drop by a hotel at the middle of the mountain( old time budget hotel ) to overnight before continuing the journey the next morning, hahahaha! ( always saw those scenes either in novels or movies ) - Imaginations!!
I first came to know the name of Mt. Emei was from Jin Yung's Wu Xia series ( Wu Xia means hero/heroine who is good at martial arts ). In fact, the history does tell that it was once the perfect place of all kungfu masters who wanted to excel in martial arts although Shaolin Monastery would still be the origin. ( Shaolin is believed to be the home of all martial arts. ) But now, this once 'a paradise for those who wished to attain purity of body, mind and soul has become a commercial hub! I bought some tea leaves up there ( it was not expensive and the aroma was very nice ). Later, I showed the pack of tea leaves I bought up the Mt Emei to the tea shops in the town. They looked at my tea leaves and told me they were just 'old tea leaves' - implying not good grade ones, so that I would buy 'good grade' tea leaves from them. When I came back home, I compared these tea leaves ( being told as 'not good grade' ones ) with others I bought from different shops ( bought 4 different types in 4 tiny packs- not expensive ), these being judged 'not too good grade' by the local shoppers in Emei seemed to me that they had the best aroma of all, haha ! Almost every part of Mt Emei is being commercialized, hmmm. I suppose the cruelty in reality of the commercial world has killed the beauty of the legend tales of the mountain.
Okay, finished about the legend tales. Now, let's back to the first day, my first experience taking bus from Chengdu to Emei town once arrived Chengdu. Still remember that the bus driver was driving crazily fast, everyone in the bus was keeping an eye on the journey right in front of them ( it was like someone was going to shout anytime, "Watch out! There is a car coming, do not knock on it, Mr. Driver !" ) Our bodies were uncontrollably 'swinging' to right and left, following obediently the 'impatient mood' of the driver. When arrived there, walked through the hall, a number of locals approaching me 'eagerly' to see whether did I need any transport ( the fare was ridiculous ! ). I just said a 'no' and walked past them. Some never gave up, came after me and kept convincing me to take their transport ( Wait a minute, they had no legal taxi license ! ). At the end of the day, my answer was still a big 'NO'. I got a taxi later to get me to the 'budget hotel' . Although there was still a little risk by taking a taxi, but it still would be a much better alternative compared to taking the one without a taxi licence, see.
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Bus schedule at Chengdu
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It was dark and rainy the moment I arrived at the hotel. The taxi dropped me at a street between two rows of shoplots. The place was actually a village. I needed to walk to the back of the shoplots ( not far ) to get to the budget hotel that I booked a room online. It was a pleasant hotel, the service given was good and friendly. The guy at the counter, Mr Yang was a very considerate young guy who never hesitant to provide information on everything about Mt. Emei that I asked. Don't get the wrong idea, I did do reading on Mt Emei and did my homework before the trip. Just that, most of the time, information from the locals can be somewhat useful and practical ( if possible, ask a few different people and compare the info ). Everything was fine in the hotel, but there was only one thing I didn't like - the walking journey from the hotel to the town, not really far but at night, it was dark as no street lights along it. Rather dangerous for a solo traveller, hmmm. Got free breakfast as stated online but it was a very 'humble' one, haha. Mantou ( bun ), preserved bean curd and a bowl of hot soya bean. That's it.
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| My humble breakfast :P |
The hotel guy, Mr Yang told me not to buy the bamboo pole as the previous travellers had left a few at his counter. So, I chose my favourite bamboo pole from the counter. The bamboo pole had become my new faithful companion for three days besides my already 'outdated' DSC - HX5V. I took bus from Emei town to the foot of Mt. Emei. Was thinking 'fairytalely' about hiking the mountain from foot to top ( 3-4 days needed for experts to complete it, while for me I think I needed more than 4 days. Also, winter had made some of the hiking paths icy slippery. Without an expert next to me, I changed my mind to do so although was hungry for that adventurous journey, lolz ). So, my first destination the next morning was to the Golden Summit ( JinDing )
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| Slippery road - taking bus to Lei Dong Ping then to the peak in the shortest time. |
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| Snowy |
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Did a short slippery walk from Lei Dong Ping to the cable car station ( Jie Yin Dian Spot ),
bought this - it was tasteless ( regretted ) ! |
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On the way to Golden Summit : A baby monkey playing with a bottle of water. Looking pitiful.
( Monkeys of Mt. Emei are famous for their wildness but they looked more obedient that afternoon. ) |
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| A kind soul ( a passer-by ) took this pic for me. ( The peak was just a few steps away. ) |
Although the purity of Mt Emei has mercilessly contaminated by commercial activities and human's hunger, it was a bless when there were still some peaceful corners and a trace of the past found. It was so joyful to look at the fat roosters idling in the wood, donkeys tied to the tree bark ( I supposed they were tied though the tie was not obviously seen), waiting for masters to come, the sound of cooking and chopping in the kitchen, the smoke came out from the chimney of old village house and the beautiful green around while hiking up Mt Emei. ( Not really a strenuous style of foot-to-top steep hiking as that needs a few days time ). The town bus took me to certain point at the lower part of mountain and from there, I could start my 'baby level-hiking' journey. To make it short, I never visited every temple ( from top to foot / from foot to top ) there as I only planned to be there for three days. So, I chose a few worth-visiting monasteries at Mt. Emei to be visited. As I was not the type of person where I must get everything in return for making my ticket fare a worth one, thus I was still happy though I had to let go some places as long as every of my moment there was 'a worth-having one'; frankly, it was but it had nothing to do with religion surprisingly, haha :)
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This huge seashell was displayed in a mini museum near the temple at the peak.
It was one of the buddhist sacred items. Well, I recalled that my lecturer caught this ( exactly the same type ) at Pulau Besar, West Malaysia while snorkeling in mid 90's. It was cooked with roti canai and we ate it together at our camp. OMG! :P |
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A silver ingot ( the old money used in China ) and gold bars.
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The entrance ticket was allowed to be used for two days, so I had two days actually to explore the mountain. The second day of my trip was the first day of my exploration. I went up the JinDing the golden summit of Mt Emei by cable car ( wanna save time ) in the morning and spent a night up there, hoping to see the miracle of Mt. Emei in winter, haha. ( The miracles I hoped for : The sunrise and the cloud sea of Mt Emei although I knew it was not an easy time to get to watch sunrise and cloud sea in winter as the mist was heavy most of the time. ) The feeling of overnighting at the peak of Mt Emei was really good, the hotel room was clean as I requested for a clean room earlier which must be free of mouldy smell. They really did what I requested so got no complaint. I woke up early at dawn, brought along the spiky straps that I rented ( modern invention ) for my shoes to avoid the slippery ground ( wanna try the woven grass sandals next time, I think those are more practical to be used on the ground although it was an old time invention - if an old time invention can still be sold well in the 21st century, it must have its old wisdom that survives. Alas, never thought of that when I chose the spiky straps! )
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| The 'little hotel' that I stayed at the peak. |
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| My dinner at the peak. Egg omelette with tomato and rice. |
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| The woven grass sandals. |
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The spiky strap I rented. ( Hmmm, not so practical frankly. )
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I took herbal eggs and cup noodles when up there. Nice! Also, enjoyed the cold lemon concentrated juice in bottle. Not an expensive meal but the feeling was miraculously good! Love the white silence that surrounded me. The pine trees stood solidly still witnessing the quietness of the white snow. It was beautiful... :)
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| The herbal eggs were delicious! |
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| Instant seafood noodles - Not bad :) |
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| Drank two bottles of Lemon C-100 :P |
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A herbs stall up the mountain. ( Mt. Emei is rich with medicinal herbs and well-known for tea leaves. )
Ps: I didn't buy the herbs as I was not able to differentiate the genuine's and the fake's. |
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I bought this ( not much, just a tiny packet ).
When I tried this at home, its aroma and taste were the best among the tea leaves I bought although being told those were just 'old tea leaves' by a tea leaves seller down the mountain. |
I walked back to the cable car station (Jie Yin Dian ) and took the cable car down to the bus stand ( Lei Dong Ping ), returned the spiky straps and took bus to the Wan Nian Si Parking Lot. This time, I had chosen to hike for about 40 minutes although cable car service was available. By hiking up to Wan Nian Si Monastery - one of the oldest temples up the mountain, I experienced more things. I had chance to see the little village houses built there, a little of the villagers' daily life, their donkeys, roosters and hens ( very beautiful ones ), their farms and of course, the green and refreshing surrounding ( no white snow at the lower point of the mountain ). Some were selling candles and incense sticks for a few yuan ( to buy these at the monasteries up the mountain would be very expensive ).
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| It was just a start. |
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| A nice walk :) |
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The farm I saw along the journey.
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| A trace of the past. |
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A cute fatty hen hiding behind the tree.
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| A donkey waiting for its master. |
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The roosters were handsome while the hens seemed to be a little shy :)
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Arriving at a small village.
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| Came across this very old temple but never went in as time didn't allow. |
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| Stalls outside the old temple. |
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| Wan Nian Si Monastery was just right in front. |
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This is ridiculous !!! ( Didn't buy, hymmp! )
If Buddha sees this, the Almighty may close His eyes and shake His head says,"Oh human! You're taking advantage of my teaching. Hymp!"
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A peach tree in Wan Nian Si Monastery.
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The same peach tree when blossomed in Wan Nian Si.
( This photo doesn't belong to me, it is picked from www.tour.beijing.com )
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So tempting !
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Qingyin Ge ( Qingyin Pavillion ) was my next destination after Wan Nian Si.
It was quite a distance.
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Remember that to go Qingyin Ge from Wan Nian Si, I needed to walk quite a
distance and then came to this where I had to walk down the stairs and at
the end of the stairs,my 'walking story' did not end just there. It was like
a never-ending story, hmmm. I had lost count of the time taken for this journey,
haha!
PS: Due to some photo uploading problem here,
will continue my walking story in my future blog :)
( A Trip to China (III) - Mt. Emei )
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