Last month, Ross and I were cycling by the river, and we spotted a beautiful building on the other side. I really wanted to go see what it was, but it was getting late so we decided to look for it another day.
I was very interested in going back and finding it. I hoped it was a hotel with a restaurant or something, Weather and busyness prevented us from returning for a few weeks but last week the cold winds died down and the sun came out and we hopped on our bikes to find it.
I was very interested in going back and finding it. I hoped it was a hotel with a restaurant or something, Weather and busyness prevented us from returning for a few weeks but last week the cold winds died down and the sun came out and we hopped on our bikes to find it.
We followed the path beside the river, which is a great place to ride, although we had to cross two highways as we followed the river. On the way, we saw an open-air butcher shop at the side of the highway, and we passed some greenhouses. Here you can see the straw matting rolled up on the roof
Then we cycled through another small village we hadn't been to before. The photographs we've taken of the villages don't do justice to their atmosphere. In the pictures you mostly see featureless walls. All the houses are walled off, with no windows on the street. If the handsome double front doors are open, you see an entryway with a mural facing the door. This provides privacy and also has something to do with feng shui, I believe. This style of building must date back to lawless days when you didn't want bandits or your rulers to know if you had a nice possessions or pretty daughters.
Anyway, we wound our way through the village and circled back to the river where we figured the mystery building was. There was a dirt levee between us and the river. As Ross cycled up the steep bank of the levee, one of his bike pedals bent and nearly snapped off. So there we were, within sight of the building, but unable to ride there.
Then we cycled through another small village we hadn't been to before. The photographs we've taken of the villages don't do justice to their atmosphere. In the pictures you mostly see featureless walls. All the houses are walled off, with no windows on the street. If the handsome double front doors are open, you see an entryway with a mural facing the door. This provides privacy and also has something to do with feng shui, I believe. This style of building must date back to lawless days when you didn't want bandits or your rulers to know if you had a nice possessions or pretty daughters.
Anyway, we wound our way through the village and circled back to the river where we figured the mystery building was. There was a dirt levee between us and the river. As Ross cycled up the steep bank of the levee, one of his bike pedals bent and nearly snapped off. So there we were, within sight of the building, but unable to ride there.
That is, unable to ride there together.
I just couldn't turn back after I'd been wanting to see this building for a couple of weeks. So Ross waited with his bike while I cycled along the top of the levee to get a closer look. The building is much larger and grander than any other buildings in the area.
It turned out to be a temple. There was a large incense burning holder out front. I didn't go inside. Presumably there are some painted wooden representations of Buddhas or deities in there. After grabbing a few pictures, I went back to join Ross.
Ross managed to cycle back home, very awkwardly. Luckily there is a bike repair shop next to the school. Ten yuan later and Ross had a new pedal, ready for our next ride.
I just couldn't turn back after I'd been wanting to see this building for a couple of weeks. So Ross waited with his bike while I cycled along the top of the levee to get a closer look. The building is much larger and grander than any other buildings in the area.
It turned out to be a temple. There was a large incense burning holder out front. I didn't go inside. Presumably there are some painted wooden representations of Buddhas or deities in there. After grabbing a few pictures, I went back to join Ross.
Ross managed to cycle back home, very awkwardly. Luckily there is a bike repair shop next to the school. Ten yuan later and Ross had a new pedal, ready for our next ride.
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