My Alaska Musings while missing China.

This blog is about living back in Alaska after 7 years in China. To say I miss China would be putting it lightly.

August 17, 2008

One of my favorite places in China is a mountain valley not too far from Xiangfan. It's called Hong Shan or Hong Mountain. One has to travel up a narrow road that seems to be not quite wide enough for two cars to pass. The first time I went there, I went with friends. We went during winter and ended up walking more than half the way up the mountain and all the way down. (Distance is 19 kilometers). It was simply gorgeous, a little cold, that didnt matter. Infact, it was on New Year's Day, what a way to start a new year. As we looked out over the valley, which was covered with snow, it was like a fairyland. Iced branches sparkled like diamonds in morning sunlight. Blue sky highlighted the white snow. We were met with one surprise after another as we walked into the valley. First, at the bottom of the hill, was a Buddhist temple built in Song Dynasty times. Then there was a tree that was reportly more than 1200 years old. All around us, were mountains. We were inside a very protected place. Sunrises and sunsets were worthy of being subjects of paintings, so full of color. In the early mornings, frost was everywhere.  Even though the trees were leafless, they still added to the beauty all around us. The stark contrast from the dark branches to the snow covered ground was breathtakingly beautiful.

Earlier this week, we went over to the Columbia Glacier. It happens to be one of the most photographed places in Alaska. Many tour boats haul their cargo of tourists there to get pictures of ice bergs and glacier. We were sitting there on our  boat, eating lunch surrounded by this protected space. Hong Shan came to mind. No there isnt any ocean around Hong Shan as there is at Columbia Glacier. There are, however, mountains all around the cove like at Hong Shan. Even though it is August and should be somewhat warm out, it felt very cold in the cove because of the ice field. Hong Shan valley seems to circular in nature. Columbia Glacier's cove is circular in nature. Trees are still green instead of leafless. Whiteness of the glacier stands in stark contrast to the verdant green color surrounding it. Surprises includes its  many ice bergs floating around in front. Some of these are a beautiful soft aqua color from the denseness of the ice. You dont see that much blue looking directly at the glacier...you see the white cover of snow or recent ice. Older ice gets more compact and dense, making it look very blue. Hong Shan Valley was full natural beauty and Columbia Glacier's cove is full of natural beauty. Living in China gave me much to see and tell about. Coming home for awhile, also, gives me much to see and talk about. China was all new. Alaska, now, seems old but very new. I took her beauty for granted until I came back with new eyes.  With that, I will leave you till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 17:59 | link | comments |
china, travel, alaska, hong shan, columbia glacier