a collection of wanton thoughts: 上海-黄山 20

I'm back in hot, humid, boring Singapore! :( Oh well, I've had some good times during the trip so there're pictures to share! There were more hiccups this time round compared to the 九寨沟 trip in June ... apparently there was some itinerary mix-up ... what we had been given when we booked the trip was not the one faxed over to the Chinese agency.

Also, the tour guide this time was not as conscientious ... she didn't even know what's supposed to be on the itinerary when we were in other cities! See, we stopped by 苏州 and 无锡 on the way and each had their own local guide. Apparently, one of the spots in 无锡 was missed and our miss tour guide didn't even know! Our group members made a lot of noise throughout the trip to gain back what we had been promised so in the end, it's not so bad ... we were compensated somehow ... for me, that's not too important as long as we all had fun.

As it was a small group of 14, we got to know each other pretty well, and hopefully we'll be in touch as friends so that's cool. Especially the 3 lovely Indonesian girls who remind me of what youth means ... haha ... speaking like an old woman :)

At Chenghuang Miao in Shanghai, where one can find the famous Nanxiang xiaolongbao ... we didn't though :(

It was 冬至 on 22 December so there's this giant bowl of 汤圆 at Chenghuang Miao.

Old Chinese architecture chracterises Chenghuang Miao.

People here air pork like they do laundry ...

Money offered in exchange for good luck at the 雷峰塔 (Leifeng Pagoda) in 杭州 (Hangzhou). 雷峰塔 is the pagoda that trapped a 1000-year-old snake spirit, Madam White Snake in the Legend of Madam White Snake. It is now in ruins after collapsing in 1924 because the people of Hangzhou stole bricks from the pagoda. Why steal bricks? Buddhist scriptures - 经 (pronounced as jing) - were kept inside the bricks. Because it sounds much like gold - 金 (pronounced as jin) - people stole the bricks hoping to find gold in them. Besides, people thought that since the pagoda could suppress a snake spirit, the bricks could at least fend off snakes which could destroy crops and silkworms which were pivotal to their livelihood.

The remains of the collapsed pagoda.

The West Lake (西湖)

Bells hanging from the roof of 雷峰塔

Gotta look dainty when surrounded by great natural beauty ... hehe ...

Posing in front of 雷峰塔.

It is said that 西湖 in the moonlight is more beautiful than when it is covered in snow, which is more beautiful than when it is shrouded in fog, which is more beautiful than when rain falls on its tranquil waters, which is more beautifiul than when its mirror surface glistens in bright sunlight. It was very misty the morning we took a boat ride on the West Lake.

This is the entrance to an old Chinese village in the province of 安徽 (Anhui) called 宏村 (Hong Cun)

Didn't realise until I looked back at my pictures - the 2 men look funny. Haha ...

The bridge where a scene from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was filmed.

Old style homeroom in the village, which is not in use anymore. How fitting of these 2 school teachers to be seated here.

A couple of villagers practising the art of Chinese calligraphy.

Cute little boy!

The hike up 黄山 (Huangshan) in light drizzle (or maybe it's just fog?)

The brownie and the toadstool. Haha ...

连心锁 (interlocking hearts) - couples who make it to the top of the mountain will intertwine two padlocks to seal their commitment to the relationship which will hopefully be as solid as the mountain they have just climbed.

The thick mist rendered our trip up 黄山 virtually worthless cuz we couldn't see anything! This must be the best shot I've got of what little of the mountain's famed beauty that peeked through the thick fog for a few sheer seconds ...