After our black market experience, we hopped on a plane to Hangzhou, a city known for its beautiful lakes. I felt like I was back in the 90's when the flight attendants told everyone our cell phones had to be off the entire time, not even if it is set on airplane mode, and we could not use or electronics during take off or landing. Sean told me that he was once on a plane where someone tried to open the emergency exit door while in flight so I guess they need to be more strict!!!
Our hotel was in the West Lake, where throngs of people were gathered for the Dragon Boat Festival. Hangzhou's city wall was built in 600AD and was one of the seven ancient capitals of China. Marco Polo came to the city in the late 13th century and wrote "it's greater than any city in the world." While we were admiring the city thru our car windows, we also noticed, once more, the crazy drivers. People tend to just float over to the other lanes and rather than driver's honking to warn these floaters that they are close to hitting them, they like to just casually flash their lights that they are there.
The fam took a lovely night walk; enjoying the calming sounds of nature and thankful for this getaway from the intensity of the urban cities we have been exploring. I felt as if we were in the rainforest with the frogs croaking, the insects active, and the babbling gurgles of the creek. I was very happy to be at peace in the beauty of nature. I love venturing out into cities for new experiences but, growing up in beautiful Colorado, I can't stay away from serene landscape for too long! One of my favorite moments from the China trip was when we all gathered by the lake and watched the bats and owls fly overhead. I am so grateful to have such an amazing and loving family.
Day 13-June 21st
We all took a wonderful walk around the lake the next morning, stopping to take pictures of the alluring architecture and being immersed with hundreds of sensational red and white dragonflies chasing each other.
Across the lake, we admired a large pagoda while our guide told us the ancient story of a white snake that wanted to become human so she was transformed and she fell in love with a human. An evil man, whose job was to capture all the half human/half creatures, caught her and put her in the tower. Her love became a monk so he could serve in the tower and be close to her forever.
Sean, Charlene and I went to a nice Vietnamese restaurant so I could try Pho, a soup like consistency with vegetable and noodles. I am a fan!!!
