By Lachlan and Noah
We woke up today at the pleasant hour of 6am, to the harmonious chorus of an overly aggressive telephone. Half an hour later, we wandered downstairs to breakfast, which for some was a spread of dumplings and spicy noodles and for others, a bowl of rice bubbles and some tasteless Starbucks coffee. We finished breakfast and got ourselves ready for for an 8amdeparture, beginning a two-hour bus journey to the Leshan Buddha.
The bus ride was our first real look into Chinese lifestyle outside of the densely populated city and provided a stark contrast when compared to the bustling inner-city. We saw an area that was used for farming as well as for housing, showing that even 2 hours out of a mega-city like Chengdu, the urban sprawl is still prevalent. We entertained ourselves with cards and music until we arrived at the confluence of the Min and Dadu Rivers.
We then boarded an open-top boat that took us out onto the Dadu River to view the giant buddha. We stopped directly in front of the 71-meter-tall stone carving of Maitreya, who is the future ‘enlightened one’ in the Buddhist religion. The views of this amazing red bed sandstone carving were breath-taking and we were all very eager to get photos. Our local Chengdu guide, Penny, also informed us that the Buddha was constructed between the years of 713 and 803AD and that it was the biggest stone carving of a Buddha in the entire world.
Lunch came after the boat trip, and was classic Chinese cuisine consisting of fried rice, all types of meat, vegetables cooked in bizarre yet tasty ways, and tea that strangely smelled and tasted like bread, it was still of course, very delicious. When eating lunch, we reflected on our previous Chinese meals, and how the “lazy Sally” (the spinning table) was commonplace in most Chinese restaurants. This created an atmosphere where we found ourselves sharing both food, and raucous laughter. Overall, lunch today was an introduction to the sharing culture of Chinese society.
After lunch, we walked for about 45 minutes, up steep stairs to get to the top of the buddha where an amazing view was waiting for us. We spent 25 minutes walking around the top of the Buddha, taking many photos and admiring the sheer size and craftsmanship of this carving. Walking down from the top of the Buddha, we admired the vista, and the scarlet red writing that contrasted stunningly with the soft green flora.
Upon returning to our hotel, we admired the complex array of neon lights that earned Chengdu its badge as China’s ‘hipster capital’. For dinner, we visited a restaurant that was similar to the one we ate lunch at. After filling our bellies, we returned to the hotel where we settled down for a good sleep in preparation for a big day with the pandas.
Noah: Dear Mum and Dad, China is incredibly interesting, I’m finding all the culture fascinating and I’m sure I will remember this trip forever. I am having lots of fun, can’t wait to tell my stories to you.
Lachie: Hi Mum, Dad, Daphne and Lulu, I’m having a great time in so far and am actually adjusting really well to the Chinese cuisine. Thinking of you and wishing Lulu good luck in her choreography comp from China. Love you
