A trip to the old city

I woke up early in the morning, ready to go to the ancient city and take some surreal photos. But was unpleasantly surprised by the weather, it was foggy, and just about to rain. Just my luck huh. So I changed my plan, and decided to take a walk into the near mountain until the weather got better and then venture off to the ancient city. Taxis are always an option, but budgeting carefully, I took the bus instead. As usual, it was full of people going for work. I asked one girl next to me where should I get down and I listened carefully until the stop came. Upon arrival, it started raining... just perfect! I pondered whether to continue walking and face the perilous ordeal of getting soaked or to head back to the hotel to fetch my jacket. All the people around were with umbrellas. Never mind, I said, I'll keep walking in the May rain. It soon became windy and colder so I returned to the hotel. Thinking that I don't want to go out now, but I said to myself, is that why I came??? To stay in the hotel all day?

NO. So I went to the bus again, all the way to the Shou Mountain (首山). No other crazy people were willing to climb in this weather. But the nature was shining, enjoying the warm spring rain. Everything around was bathed in green and glistening with fresh raindrops. The birds were singing, the wind echoing in the distance. The fervor of nature has always charged me with so much positive energy. I enjoyed the walk all the way to the top, quite breathless, I came to a lookout tower and watched the entire city, filtered by fog. I was so far from that city, my mind was flying into the sky, I wanted to stay here in the heavenly nature and care for nothing else.

Nearby I saw many huge stones perched on the hill, as I drifted closer it felt like moving in a different dimension. There were sounds of drums, neighing of horses, clanging of swords, a pure battle, and silence. The rain was raining heavily now and my face was wet of tears. Songs... the songs of the wind. Heroes... Yes, I have been here before.

After few minutes I continued on my way and came to a gazebo and of course climbed to the top. In the distance I saw houses in the old Chinese style and a statue of a man wrapped in a cloak and instinctively realized my next niche. It was a monastery. Fantastic, beautiful, looked a bit deserted. It was decorated with modern art that looked quite authentic. I shot some footage and spoke with a nice woman, she unlocked one door especially for me, to show me the Buddha and invited me for the morning prayer. The Buddha statue was so majestic, always looking you in the eyes, preaching respect, leading to a meditation and state of Nirvana. I could hardly help myself not to shoot, but since before I know that Buddha should not be shot, and didn't do it. Though I have never been given a proper explanation and I often see posters with pictures of Buddha, I respectfully obliged.

I proceeded, the rain was still in the air, so I decided to go to the sea. It was foggy. The lady sculpture in the middle of the beach was radiating a pleasant feeling all over the place. Several boats were tied up and were swaying on the waves. Few gulls chased in the air, few fishermen were luring baited hooks for their potential catch. There were few bridges and few pavilions built in an ancient style. I went there and enjoyed the serenity, the sea and the whispering wind...

The rain stopped, I was in a hurry, as I was not sure when the ancient city closed. I entered the gates and started observing the monuments. The city walls were part ancient part reconstructed. One strange thing caught my eye – a lot of plants where living into the wall, coming out of the concrete, going out and just hanging in the air. Four main gates located East-west-north-south, decorated with a lot of beautiful colorful flags. A lot of shops for special souvenirs were all over the main streets, no one door was empty, everywhere there was something to be bought. Chinese people are always open to do business, pure business experts. I saw a beautiful bamboo flute, and I was about to buy one as I finished the view. I heard a birdsong, and unbelievably found a nightingale in a cage. We talked a little and I wanted to buy it and set if free. But the owner obviously enjoyed the song as I did, so I quit my involuntarily quirk. I continued the walk and saw a lot of children with big bags, which were coming back from school, they were walking together and speaking vividly after the classes. There were few mothers who rode a bicycle with their child. There were a lot of lilac trees, spreading its aroma everywhere. I reached one tower and wanted to enter, but one girl asked me for a ticket.