Leshan, China
Monday, October 6, 2008
Stepped through the entrance gates and walked down the steps where a man put a monkey on my arm and then Niamhs in an attempt to make us pay for a photo. The monkey was very light and had rubbery feeling feet was really cute. However had no money so had to explain that couldn't pay! Then went along the path and saw many buddahs of all shapes and sizes carved into the rock. Had to go up the obligtory steep steps to the temple at the top. The temple was carved into the rock and very atmospheric. Then went out through a tunnel and down to a snack bar where we managed to scrape enough money together for three waters and some pot noodles! Then continued up and down many steps through forest and past small shrines untiil we got up to the Dafo's head - the sheer scale of which was really impressive! We the climbed down narrow steep and winding steps to the river and the feet of the giant buddha. Took loads of photos and Niamh was asked to be in many more before starting up the cliff walk to Wayou monastery! The cliff walk took us along a winding path through the cliff and on the side of the cliffs before we came to a small village where they had a market selling all sorts including turtles and alligators. After being hassled by a woman who insited we needed to go on her scooter, we then crossed a bridge over to Wayou Shan. More steps took us up to the pink walled monastary, was a very peaceful place some fantastic statues and a lovely temple where there were monks praying. Feeling better after our experience there we went down to the bottom, expecting to find a bus or boat, but there were no directions to anything! managed to flag a taxi down to take us into
Leshan. Halfway there we had to stop as Niamh needed to throw up, to be fair she had been complaining that her tummy hurt most of the afternoon! The taxi driver waited patiently until she finished and then took us on to
Leshan via an ATM, he understood my Chinese!!! He kindly stopped right by the bus to Emei and we got on to the bus much to Niamh's dismay, who thought we could somehow get there by magic! We were prepared this time and Niamh threw up into a sick bag very discretly. At the bus station we were approached by some one from the Teddy Bear Hotel. I explain we didn't want to go there but up to FuHu Si and he just smiled and nodded, and took us to the Teddy Bear hostel. I explained again and he agreed t5o take us up to FuHu Si but not before we had been stopped by the owner of the Teddy Bear Hostel, who told us the monostary was closed, and then when I said it wasn't said there were no showers etc. Despite this we managed to get up to the monostary, via a half haerted attempt to get us to stay at hotel on the way there. Once there we wandered aimlessly about trying to find someone to help us. Eventually found a nun who booked us in and showed us our room which was very nice for the princely sum of 160RMB! There were hot showers but we couldn't get any food, neither was it quiet people kept walking past our window and peering in saying "hello" .
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