China Tour Thoughts

China Tour Diary Moment #1 -------------------------------- KUNMING THOUGHTS Sunday morning flight to Kunming city; East bound to explore vignettes of China; New vistas to sight, postcard memories; Feast visual galore on tour agenda. Yunnan province greets our earthly landing; Brisk clearance and we find our local guide; Exchange smiles that meet, then tour bus streaking; Weather most windy as spring hues subscribe. Tour guide speaks calmly a welcome message; A Chinese-English sing-song melody; Listen casually to odd new passage; Downtown we relish a lunch meal squarely. A simple platter of local cuisine; We pick and choose eats that fit appetites; Spice random chatter with comments that tinge; Observe taste and treat as we take small bites! Hunger satisfied, take snapshots visuals; Tour bus assembly speeds on long highways; Somnolence allied with drowsy pixels; Cameras busy capturing brief stay. They drive on the right side of the road here; Sunday traffic sails briskly on the way; Mountain range moves sight as sunlight marks clear; Sense wonder prevails as glimpses portray. Each person ponders strange surge of feelings; Vast lands hold stories with ancient musings; Meet modern wonders that re-shape dwellings; Commercial buzz frees rush of new stirrings. Our tour guide rambles in a voice that fits; Drowsy and blurry eyes and ears adrift; A fine preamble ere mountain side greets; Commentary flies as napping moods drift. All too soon we come to this mountain trail; See West Gate Mountain fling scenic invite; Longmen peak now sums trek cast to unveil; Up and up, coach strains path winding road cites. Mountain terrain calls high above sea level; One by one we walk and trek steeply steps; Loiter by cave walls where pavilions tell Myths and tales, spin talk, whispers on tour map. The way down is steep, carved granite rock slides; Slippery feet glide, hands struggle to cling; Caution this plunge deep as each step kills pride; Moments in the wind, scary fumbles fling. Two arduous hours trek with fatigue showing; Cliff pavilions, sacred stone silence; Meditative tact in rock carvings; Ground zero action in weary instance. Here the ancients paths of mystic journeys Become heritage to tourist commerce; This pass seems enough for movement risky; Test city courage with feisty immersed! By this mountain cliff, city dwellers learn A way beyond thought that hovers around; Our habits are stiff as nature interns; Risk patterns allot strange feelings new found. Quick tram wire ride brings a glee; Coach zooms round mountain in plunging descend; Driver's speedy stride seems mad mastery; We stare with tension at this fast expense. Tour bus takes over with fifteen tourists; Sun sets as we go winding Kunming roads; Hotel stopover to settle our gist; Quick check-in and lo, a banquet to load. Grand menu and feast plus downing fine beer; A happy dinner to reward our tact; Strong liquor at least to prelude rest near; Echoes of laughter to retire day's pact. Weary from trekking, a hot bath revives; A good night's sleep comes slowly somehow; Stuffy room lacking the airy contrive; Awareness pains deep as headache endows. We sit up and speak of poor circulation; Sit at the armchair and try to steal rest; Glimpse the mountain peak from our stagnation; Think us an odd pair for oxygen fest! Bear with this story of air isolation; Fumble with tablets that give some relief; Sip our hot green tea to free sensations; Fondle iPad tablet to set new rhymes stiff. Wait for the new dawn to spring a new day; Joy in the knowing that all will be well; Soon magic stirs morn as we reach to stray; Live a sure showing that our tour will tell. Monday covets brisk the gorgeous Huixiang Gorge; That's another Cave to challenge our feet; Dawn light surely brisk, new motions to forge; A tunnel to brave as stone canyons treat! More tales for ink flow as Kunming invites Awe and transcendence in magic that stays; Igneous formation of rocks now recite Sense sculpting ascent to fashion fond say. Leon Enriquez 18/19 May 2014 From Kunming, China Yunnan Province