Hangzhou Invasion | Day 1

It was already past 8 in the morning when we decided to get out of bed so we only managed to leave Elmer’s pad at around 10AM. Elmer must be utterly dismayed since he already informed us the night before that we’ll be leaving at 8AM the next day.

So we walked 2 blocks to buy the miracle train tickets from a centralized ticketing station and then boarded a bus to Hubin road along the famous West Lake. That day’s schedule was to visit the Lingyin Buddhist temples, however it was already noon time so we just stroll along and search for a decent restaurant to have our lunch. We were able to manage to take some photos along the way until we reached a Japanese restaurant named Ajisen Udon.

West Lake view along Hubin Road

A balloon vendor at Hubin Road

We took bus number K2 bound to the Lingyin Temple. At the entrance, we meet Elmer’s friend and colleague, Enya (it’s not her birth name of course). I thought she was being attacked by ants because her feet never stopped stomping when she saw us. But then I realized my 8-month old daughter is pretty much the same and together, they’ll literally rock your world. He introduced us her boyfriend Jun, who may have forgotten how to smile (so we’d always silently laugh at him whenever they’re taking pictures). On the way to the park entrance, Enya handed to each of us ID cards which she refer to as “ghost IDs.” These IDs will let you enter all of Hangzhou’s sites for free (I was offered a similar card in Kunshan for 100RMB during the Chinese New Year but I refused to buy). It was of great use because the entrance ticket for the “Peak Flying from Afar” alone cost 35RMB for adults and that for the Lingyin Temple itself is another 30RMB.

Can you climb the peaks on this attire like this lady did?

Fei Lai Feng or the Peak Flown from Afar (yes, that’s what it’s called) is a series of icicle caves and rocky peaks with Buddhist sculptures inside and out. I’m done with my student years so I can’t give you reaction paper-like descriptions of what we saw and what they meant. But luckily we had our tour guide incarnated as Enya. So Inside the caves, we noticed people tracing their hands along a smooth stone grove on the walls. According to our tour guide incarnate, men have to do this using their left hands while women with their right in order for Buddha to grant their hearts’ wishes.

We hurried to takes enough pictures so we could go out of the caves because it was mosquito infested and we worried that Tifa might be bitten (even with our honey-based mosquito repellant from Ilog Maria). Luckily, I have managed to take my trademark pose near the exit.

At the cave exit hang more Buddha sculptures and in bigger sizes. I noticed the big fat-bellied Buddha sitting at a peak and I remembered how a colleague told me it was called Milaufu. He’s the Buddha with a big smile and big belly ready to laugh off and swallow every intolerable elements in the world. Toughing his hand will enable him to bestow upon you a good fortune. WOW!

We didn’t anymore visit the higher peaks across the brook because the sign already warn us “Caution, Slip” and we don’t wan’t to risk the baby’s safety so we just proceed to the Lingyin Temple.

So we used the “ghost ID” trick again to past the temple entrance. Though Enya and his boyfriend had to pay the normal 30RMB fee because they were caught by the securities. LOL!

If my memory is accurate, Lingyin Temple is consists of four main temples so you have to climb four flatforms to reach the peak. We thought there are cable cars waiting for us at the top but to our dismay, the cable cars are only available to the next mountain. So we had to descend that mountain by foot.

Our day ended watching the “West Lake Dance” of the Music Fountain and hagglings at the night market stroll where I bought a 20RMB Louis Vuitton wallet (originally priced at 120RMB) and a silver bracelet for my wife for 20RMB (from 65RMB). My digital camera had low batteries so I wasn’t able to take better pictures and not able to catch the best part of the water show on video.

The Dance of the West Lake

At the night market

More of Hangzhou Day 1 photos at Multiply.

Update 2008.11.20: Having been visited Hangzhou for the nth time, I’m giving you a tip on how you could save on your hotel reservations.