5.12 - which also happens to be my dad's birthday will most likely be a day not easily forgotten. He told me that when people ask him about his birthday, he will just say it is the same day as the earthquake. And that everyone now knows and remembers. I agree. A Sichuan friend actually sms-ed to wish my dad birthday too.
After news of the swine flu spreading to this particular part of the world, I decided not to go town as alerted by Alfred. I went down the street for a haircut, ate at my most frequent jiao zi shop at '三碗饺' and something more meaningful though brief - patronised a fruit shop with 2 ladies watching SCTV 2 direct telecast of the memorial ceremony for the earthquake last year. When paying for pears and mini watermelon (for reducing heat), I asked them about the programme. They were very much affected when they had watched what happened to their countrymen last year. However this time as they watched, they did not feel the same anymore. Indeed time have levied the pain or healed the wound, leaving behind a scar. As if it will speak a thousand words, I spouted a God bless you as I leave them to continue watching the parade segment.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Scenic Emei Shan
I have returned early morning yesterday, in time for our weekly gathering, from having conquered Emei Shan during the Labour Day Period (a holiday period the locals call '五一', consisting of 3 days, from Friday till Sunday). Some will use these days to return home, affordably a few hours away. It was a rare opportunity for me to join Alfred, his dad and YF to visit this famous mountain which I had heard and seen only on television programmes.
On Friday morning we set off at 8a.m. on a 2-hour ride to 峨眉镇．Due to the holiday season, the price of a single-bed hotel room jumped to 4.5 times its usual rate! We decided to take the bus ride to and fro to the middle scenic area. If we were to climb the mountain, I heard we will probably need 1-2 days.
We woke up and set off from our hotel at 3:30a.m. on Saturday morning to find ourselves amongst hundreds of people waiting to buy their ticket outside the bus terminal. We climbed a short distance to take the cable car which finally brought us to the 金顶.
The view reminds me of the experience I had at Srigriya, Sri Lanka. The experience of His creation -- the traces revealing His presence. How I wished for those who paid their way in to enter into temples to bow their knees to created objects in the hope of having their wishes fulfilled, to be able to reckon the full sacrifice made for them to come directly to fellowship with their Creator who knows exactly the great things He had done, as well as the plans He has for each of them!
We took the same route back to the hotel, and then to the hot spring in the evening which really helped to ease the aching in our leg muscles. It was good for us to rest and set off the next morning at 6:30a.m. back to 新南门车站.
On Friday morning we set off at 8a.m. on a 2-hour ride to 峨眉镇．Due to the holiday season, the price of a single-bed hotel room jumped to 4.5 times its usual rate! We decided to take the bus ride to and fro to the middle scenic area. If we were to climb the mountain, I heard we will probably need 1-2 days.
We woke up and set off from our hotel at 3:30a.m. on Saturday morning to find ourselves amongst hundreds of people waiting to buy their ticket outside the bus terminal. We climbed a short distance to take the cable car which finally brought us to the 金顶.
The view reminds me of the experience I had at Srigriya, Sri Lanka. The experience of His creation -- the traces revealing His presence. How I wished for those who paid their way in to enter into temples to bow their knees to created objects in the hope of having their wishes fulfilled, to be able to reckon the full sacrifice made for them to come directly to fellowship with their Creator who knows exactly the great things He had done, as well as the plans He has for each of them!
We took the same route back to the hotel, and then to the hot spring in the evening which really helped to ease the aching in our leg muscles. It was good for us to rest and set off the next morning at 6:30a.m. back to 新南门车站.
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