China Tour Thoughts
China Tour Diary Moment #1
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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
Copyright © Leon Enriquez | Year Posted 2014
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