Chengdu, Day 19 ( Juizhaigou, Part 1)

The first day of the trip started out very early at around 5 am in the morning, leaving many of us to try our best to stay awake so as to not be late when the time comes. Personally, the time spent with many of the participants during the night allows us to truly bond with one another more deeply after only being classmates for the past 2 weeks.

 View of mountain ranges

 

 

The whole trip to the Jiuzhaigou valley was filled with many stops and sights that were truly worth the trip. The first stop of the trip was already a phenomenal sight to behold and it was only the beginning. The view of the mountain ranges was an amazing view for many of us whom has never been fortunate enough to be that intimately close with mountains. The temperature itself was a shock to many; being colder that the campus.

 Arriving at our first stop

 

 Stone tablet memorial

 

 

 

Parts of the distroyed school

 

The first place that we went to is a memorial to remember the disastrous tragedy that occurred in the Sichuan area or better known as the Sichuan earthquake. The place preserved several fractured buildings that have better survived the earthquake, to act as a reminder of the tragedy to anyone the visits the place. The atmosphere was a solemn one as the visitor quietly paid their respects to the victims and awed at the destruction of the buildings. The trip was more impactful to me as the mangled structures were once a school. The memorial even premiered a stone tablet that portrays the fighting spirit of the Chinese people after the disaster, as they work together to rebuild their community. This is a great example of the Chinese culture which celebrates the bond between the people of China, regardless of their race or background.

 

 Signboard to the restaurant

 

A small kitchen used to prepare our meal

 

The next stop was our lunch where we were able to sample the culinary delicacies of the people of the mountains. Being a Muslim, I have very strict restrictions when it comes to the food that I eat, which usually leaves me to always bring my own food during outings, even if it is provided. I was happy to know that many of the Tibetan or Hui people in the mountains are also Muslims and can provide the halal meal that I require. Although we spoke different tongues, we were able to understand one another through hand-sign and also through our similarity in faiths. This experience opened a whole new vision of China for me as I was able to witness the diversity of culture, even in the most faraway place.

 

The food that was served was very different than what I usually eat. Sampling the food of the Tibetan people was a new experience for me and I am glad to have done so. The owner of the stall is very welcoming, offering me and my friends whatever little items in the menu that they have. The food, from the bread to noodles to dumplings, was simple fair, but tasted delicious to the point that I had to pack some for the journey ahead.

 First snow sighting near the path

 

 The largest waterfall in the valley

 

 Snow coverd roads

The next stop is a sight-seeing tour around an area further up in the mountains. The place exhibits many majestic waterfalls that were truly a treat for the eyes. However, the most amazing factor of the trip there, more than the waterfalls, was the small patches of snow that was still visible around the area. I was delighted to have my first glimpse of real snow after experiencing only artificial snow back home. The stop at the waterfalls got even better when the rain that had already started turn into snowflakes. Apart from the life changing snow sightings, I was still able to experience the freshwater waterfalls that dot the area.

 The Tibetan dinner

 

 

 Local singers in the village performing 

The final stop for the first day is at a small Tibetan village higher up in the mountain. We were greeted warmly by the locals. We were given sacred yellow shawls to celebrate our arrival into the village and even had our pictures taken as soon as we arrived. We were even given an opportunity to take part in several to their cultural activities like spinning the bells in front of their homes, washing our hands with the water and seeking blessing from their idols. For these activities, I had to be especially open-minded and accept them as cultural exchanges between them and me.

We were then directed into their dining hall where we sampled to their cuisine and even wine, which I had to politely decline. The Tibetan cuisine is more inclined towards meat rather than grains as seen from the dinner we had. We were all even entertained by the local villages who sang in their native language while also displaying their dance and costumes. The beat of the music was surely enough to get everyone into the partying mood.