Got up at 6:00, did a little tai chi at 6:45 and went to breakfast at 7:00.
Our morning was to relax and repack because we'd be leaving the following day for Shenzen. Art had gone off to explore the ship and buy a t-shirt so I repacked. While I was weighing the suitcase on the scale and lifting it at an awkward angle I felt and almost heard a click in my lower back. Then pain!
You have got to be kidding!!!
No way!
I spent the morning stretching out my back and praying for strength. Art came back and massaged my back for quite a while.
When Guy heard about my back, he asked, "Is there any part of you that isn't broken?" Guy and I also have shoulder problems and even went to the same physical therapist.
By 3:00 in the afternoon, stretching, the massage and a double dose of Motrin pushed the pain away in time for our excursion to Fengdu, the Ghost City.
Charlie warned us that there would be 400 steps to the top of the Ghost City mountain top.
Groan...
That was in addition to the steps from the dock to the town.
We rode these little trams to get to Fengdu's Ghost City. I was glad I wouldn't have to walk.
We were met by another city tour guide, Merry. I wonder if they get to choose their own names. I know our server, Chocolate didn't have a choice with hers.
This is the entrance to Ghost City. That sculpture reminded me of Merlin.
When I saw the painting of the path we'd be climbing to the pagoda at the top of the mountain, my back gave a twitch.
The spirits must have been helping me because I was OK so far.
The masks were probably catering to Western tourists. They looked more like Halloween masks.
There was a marriage bridge. If we wanted to spend eternity together we'd have to cross over the bridge with 7 steps. Men had to start on their left foot and women their right. (Because women are always right, right?)
These guardians of the temple entrance looked exactly like what we saw in Japan. The open mouth signifies the start and the closed mouth, the end.
Men were asked to volunteer to try and lift this HEAVY weight. I asked Art to try so I could use the photo for my blog. Since we're planning to spend eternity together, he complied to keep me happy. He said he couldn't even budge it.
Then this villager (who didn't even look like Arnold Schwarzenegger) came and rolled the weight around the mound until he got it to the top where he balanced it to stand on its own. Remarkable!!!
There was a LARGE diorama depicting what a Chinese Hell would look like.
It was pretty gross.
Someone mentioned that Dante must have come here to get ideas for his Inferno.
"Hey!" said Guy. "This broom really works!"
Darn! I have no idea which god this was.
Yahoo! We made it to the top. The entrances to temples often had these high thresholds everywhere in China to keep out evil spirits that might slither in. Women had to enter with their right foot, men with their left.
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On the way out of Ghost City we ran into this HUGE very silvery and gold longhorn beetle. I should have asked Art to put his finger next to it so you could see how LARGE it was. We thought at first that it might be an ingenious little toy that somebody was selling. But no, it's the real thing! We could hardly believe it! It was hard to get a good photo of it, but it was so silvery that it didn't look real.
6:30 was dinner and at 7:30 Charlie gave us our final instructions for the following day.
Because of the low water level at present, the ship would not be able to travel to Chongqing where we were supposed to catch another flight to Hong Kong.
Charlie said we'd have to get up early the next day, grab a QUICK breakfast and use a bus to get us to the airport to catch our flight.
We were feeling sad that our time with Charlie was coming to an end.
Our morning was to relax and repack because we'd be leaving the following day for Shenzen. Art had gone off to explore the ship and buy a t-shirt so I repacked. While I was weighing the suitcase on the scale and lifting it at an awkward angle I felt and almost heard a click in my lower back. Then pain!
No way!
I spent the morning stretching out my back and praying for strength. Art came back and massaged my back for quite a while.
When Guy heard about my back, he asked, "Is there any part of you that isn't broken?" Guy and I also have shoulder problems and even went to the same physical therapist.
By 3:00 in the afternoon, stretching, the massage and a double dose of Motrin pushed the pain away in time for our excursion to Fengdu, the Ghost City.
Charlie warned us that there would be 400 steps to the top of the Ghost City mountain top.
Groan...
That was in addition to the steps from the dock to the town.
We rode these little trams to get to Fengdu's Ghost City. I was glad I wouldn't have to walk.
We were met by another city tour guide, Merry. I wonder if they get to choose their own names. I know our server, Chocolate didn't have a choice with hers.
This is the entrance to Ghost City. That sculpture reminded me of Merlin.
When I saw the painting of the path we'd be climbing to the pagoda at the top of the mountain, my back gave a twitch.
The masks were probably catering to Western tourists. They looked more like Halloween masks.
There was a marriage bridge. If we wanted to spend eternity together we'd have to cross over the bridge with 7 steps. Men had to start on their left foot and women their right. (Because women are always right, right?)
These guardians of the temple entrance looked exactly like what we saw in Japan. The open mouth signifies the start and the closed mouth, the end.
Men were asked to volunteer to try and lift this HEAVY weight. I asked Art to try so I could use the photo for my blog. Since we're planning to spend eternity together, he complied to keep me happy. He said he couldn't even budge it.
Then this villager (who didn't even look like Arnold Schwarzenegger) came and rolled the weight around the mound until he got it to the top where he balanced it to stand on its own. Remarkable!!!
There was a LARGE diorama depicting what a Chinese Hell would look like.
It was pretty gross.
Someone mentioned that Dante must have come here to get ideas for his Inferno.
"Hey!" said Guy. "This broom really works!"
Darn! I have no idea which god this was.
Yahoo! We made it to the top. The entrances to temples often had these high thresholds everywhere in China to keep out evil spirits that might slither in. Women had to enter with their right foot, men with their left.
.jpg)
On the way out of Ghost City we ran into this HUGE very silvery and gold longhorn beetle. I should have asked Art to put his finger next to it so you could see how LARGE it was. We thought at first that it might be an ingenious little toy that somebody was selling. But no, it's the real thing! We could hardly believe it! It was hard to get a good photo of it, but it was so silvery that it didn't look real.
Because of the low water level at present, the ship would not be able to travel to Chongqing where we were supposed to catch another flight to Hong Kong.
Charlie said we'd have to get up early the next day, grab a QUICK breakfast and use a bus to get us to the airport to catch our flight.
We were feeling sad that our time with Charlie was coming to an end.
Gosh, you don't let anything keep you down, Kay. Good onya!
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't put your hnnd [sic] out of the cart.
I cannot believe your gumption. I would have been curled up in a painful ball somewhere missing all the fun. I'm surprise you didn't try to life that heavy weight. Not a fan of the silver bug. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteHoly moly, sprained ankle, bum back, you have taken a beating but like Timex, you just keep ticking. I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteThat bug does look robotic. Those temple guardians were absolutely scary.
what a wonderful trip, sorry about the back and ankle but it sounds like you managed really well, you are a real trooper!
ReplyDeleteWow that blue demon is a jerk lol.
ReplyDeletehow fortunate you didn't need to miss this trip by staying on board resting. what endurance your trip took.
ReplyDeleteYour adventures just keep coming. As always, thanks for the trip.
ReplyDeleteThe look on your face in the picture in the tram says "I can do this". I'm glad you did....you got some great pictures. I think I would have kept my distance from that beetle.
ReplyDeleteKay, you amaze me. It happens every time you travel. I've traveled internationally but I never came close to being as organized as you. Making wonderful pictures, taking notes, and writing up each days adventures at the end of the day is truly amazing.
ReplyDeleteI have deleted my long time blog and am not blogging at
http://blrs2013.blogspot.com
That boulder sure looked heavy. You could have said you strained your back trying to move IT, if you wanted to stretch the truth a bit. Wonderful pictures of what looked to be a fine day! Almost over, almost time to get back to your life at home. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm impressed. I didn't even TRY to do anything at Fengdu. One look at all those steps made me stay aboard our ship. And you were newly-injured but fixed yourself up and went anyway. Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos, Kay. Looks like I missed a lot. I don't think Dick had photos of all that.
There are a great many similarities between Chinese and Japanese folk tales and beliefs, just as there are many similarities between different groups of Native North Americans.
"Chocolate" sounds like a good name for a dog, but not for a young woman. Our table server on our Chinese cruise was called Shining. I've never heard the name "Shining" before but it suited her, and might even have been a translation of her real name.
Amazing about that heavy stone needing to go around and around to get to the top, but it makes a lot of sense. I'm sure I wouldn't have thought of it, though.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Hi to Art, and best wishes to your mother.
Luv, K
Oh my, you do have to be careful and mindful that at our age we're not spring chickens anymore lol, even though you look much younger than your years. I bet you don't feel a day over 18 too.
ReplyDeleteScary temple. I would have wanted to skip the visit to that one.
L...w
Also, that click and then pain in your back doesn't sound good. Though you may feel OK today, still mention this to your doctor to see if an xray is needed. Better to know how to strengthen your back through PT as a precaution to further injury. I wish I learned my PT exercises years ago. That would have prevented my current condition.
DeleteL...w
I hope you're getting some treatment for your back now that you're home. I see a chiropractor regularly to keep my back in order, but even so it's very easy to tweak it by moving awkwardly. That bug is wonderful, surely there must be brooches made like it somewhere in China.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine had her back go out on her when she was lifting her suitcase into an overhead bin. This affliction has really slowed her down. It's pretty serious in her case. I hope you are getting the help you need and are on the mend. I certainly think this is a monumental trip and really enjoy your narrative and photos.
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought those temple guardians looked like the Shinto ones on Sheridan street behind mcD's Keeaumoku.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Yes, I thought the beetle was a toy!
Aloha, Kay & Art :-)
The Chinese hell creatures were creepy.
ReplyDeleteBe careful with your body. Repetitive incorrect motions can eventually cause worsening damage and pain. Nurses try not to twist while moving or lifting anything, as back injuries eventually occur. Glad the Motrin worked.
Did Art pack you in the suitcase to get you home? DrumMajor
wow this trip is gruelling, you did well.
ReplyDeleteYou are a veryy brave woman. Did you see a doc when you got home?
ReplyDeleteMarvelous places tho. :)
I thought for sure that the bug was a silver piece of jewelry you had come across on your travels. Amazing that it is real.
ReplyDeleteDo you think they paint those beetles? I have seen the Egyptian beetles (Scarab?) painted and decorated with little bits of glass and beads.
ReplyDeleteYou do have physical bad luck. Good thing Art did not hurt his back trying to lift that heavy rock. David wouldn't even try. Dianne
Gosh! I have no idea. It was one of the weirdest things we saw in China though.
Delete