My Very First Blog

Continued from Part 3

As I was about to enter the mountain trail, two bulls appeared in front of me. Yikes! I quickly stepped aside for them to walk through. There were bells hanging from the bulls' necks.

It's a pity I did not take any photos of the bulls as I was just too stunned. The old lady laughed and bid me a safe journey to the fishing village. She reminded me to always take the right turn at any junction that I come across.

The trail up the mountain was narrow but the stones and rocky steps made it easier to walk.



I just hoped I would not come face to face with any bulls coming down the hill!



It's a good thing they have bells hanging from their necks so if I were to hear the sound of bells ringing, I could quickly prepare myself and jump into the bushes on either side of the trail!

Luckily for me, I did not encounter any more bulls for the rest of my climb up the mountain.

The scenery along the journey was breathtaking!



I don't think my photos would be able to do any justice to the beautiful scenery there. You have got to be there to appreciate it. Somehow, I just love the mountains and the forests!



As I continue to climb up the steep rocks, there were some buzzing sound around me. Must be flies! But I could not see any!



I looked at my handphone. It was already close to 4pm. I wondered how long more I had to climb. I pushed myself to climb faster but had to stop several times to catch my breath.



It was 4.15 pm and I was still climbing. There was no end in sight. I was thinking, should I continue? What if I reach the fishing village late and had to walk back through this forest in the late evening? The thought of trekking the forest in the darkness did not appeal to me at all.



The buzzing continued. It was getting irritating.



And then, I reached an open space with rows and rows of tall plants! This was a flat surface with no rocky steps on the ground. The plants were as tall as me, some even taller.



Walking along, I felt myself getting lost in this sea of tall plants. Soon, I came to a clearing with man-made rock formations. I did not take much photos to show here. After passing that clearing, I saw the rocky steps going up the mountain and climbed them.



I thought it was getting darker. But it's only 4.30pm. Maybe it was going to rain? I sure hoped not although I had a raincoat with me!



There was not a single soul here. I wondered why. Surely there must be some locals or even tourists who would walk this mountain trail.

I was seriously deciding whether I should continue. I did not know how long more it would take. Besides, I did not want to come here after dark. I knew that I had to use this route for my return journey after visiting the fishing village.



I made the decision to turn back. I was not going to take the risk! Walking here in the dark of the night would be no fun, believe me!

The image of a Chinese female vampire flying from tree to tree flashed through my mind. What the hell was I thinking? Erase! Erase! Erase!

Perhaps the darkened sky and the loneliness was starting to get to me. OK, I am turning back right now!



I descended the rocky steps and reached the clearing and the open space with the rows of tall plants again. Walking among the tall plants, I could not find the slabs of rocks from where I came up earlier.

After a few attempts, I still could not find my way! I realised then that I was lost! Oh no!

Then I heard someone calling my name. My Mandarin name to be exact. I froze. Did I just imagine that?

Looking around made me dizzy. I felt panicky. Help!

I kept repeating to myself to stay calm. I assured myself that the voice I heard was all in the mind. Erase! Erase! Erase!



I visualised an invisible shield surrounding me. This was a method I learnt from one of those Mind Power seminars I attended a few years ago. The invisible shield would protect me from any harm. I knew I must not underestimate the power of my mind!

I felt calm after that and my mind was clearer. I took a deep breath and reassured myself that I would find my way. Looking at all the pathways before me, I decided to take one that was slightly to my left. I really did not know why I choose that but it was just a gut feeling.

Walking among the tall plants, I soon saw the slabs of rocks again! I found my way! Yes!! You cannot imagine how relieved I felt at that moment!

I am sorry there is no more photos after this because I was just too overcame by relief to remember taking any photos! Haha.

It was unfortunate that I was not able to visit the fishing village. But who knows - maybe I will visit Xingping again a few years down the road? And next time, I will be better prepared!

Continued from Part 2

I reached a clearing. I remembered walking through this clearing when I came up earlier. There were some man-made rock formations circling the edges on one side of the clearing.



Walking past the rocks, I reached a large open space where I remembered seeing these plants. They were as tall as me, some even taller. They filled up most of the open spaces.



I stopped and looked around me. Suddenly, I was not sure of my sense of direction anymore. Should I turn right or left?

I followed one of the paths further to the right but it led me to a dead end. It was as if the tall plants had blocked the path midway.

So I walked back and tried going the opposite direction. Another dead end. How could this be?

I walked back to the centre of the open space. Behind me were the rock formations at the clearing I mentioned earlier. I stopped to think for a while. From which direction I climbed up just now?

Somehow my brain wasn't working. I decided to just walk straight ahead. But as I followed the path surrounded by all those tall plants, I felt it was not the right direction. I quickly returned back to the starting position.

The tall plants in front of me were beginning to overwhelm me. I realised I was lost!

Looking around me made me feel dizzy. The view on my right....



and on my left ...



They were making my head spin.

I suddenly felt lonely. Very lonely. I was all alone in the middle of this deserted mountain forest.

Then I heard it.

Someone calling my name.

Was it my imagination? Maybe it's just the wind. Who would know my name in such a place? Besides, it was my Mandarin name that was being called. No one ever calls me by my Mandarin name!

My heart was beating faster by the minute. I was on the verge of panic.

I have heard about spirits in the forests and I sure as hell did not want to encounter any such things in the middle of nowhere in China!

Two hours earlier, I was having a nice time chit chatting with one of the counter staff at This Old Place Youth Hostel where I stayed. Before embarking on my solo trip to Xingping's fishing village, I had to make sure I know exactly how to get there. So I enquired at the lobby and I was glad the staff there spoke reasonably good English.

There was one girl there who actually spoke excellent English and she showed me this map.



To reach the fishing village, I would need to hike up a mountain. As you can see from the map, the fishing village is on the other side of the mountain facing the beautiful Li River.

From my hostel, I would need to walk past the bus station (it's written as bus park on the map) on my left and then turn right into a village road. From there, I need to turn right into a hiking trail going up the mountain.

According to her, if I come across any junction during my hiking, I must always turn right to prevent myself from getting lost.

This should be a piece of cake......or so I thought!

Before I left the hostel, I made sure I knew how to pronounce the word yú​ cūn​ which means fishing village in English. I had to make sure the locals there understand where I want to go if I ever need to ask them for directions!

Looking at my handphone (I did not have a watch with me), it was already 2.30pm. I had better hurry. According to the girl, it would take at least one hour to reach the fishing village and that also depends on how fast I hike up and down the mountain!

After passing the bus station, I was not exactly sure where the road leading to the village was so I asked a man manning a stall opposite the bus station. He pointed me to the right direction and asked if I was going alone. When I said yes, he sniggered. Now what's that supposed to mean?

Anyway, I continued walking and reached this road.



It was one long road and there was no right or left turn.



I met a middle aged lady and asked her how to go to the fishing village. I did not understand her completely but I think she asked me to turn right when I reach the mountain trail.



If the road I walked looks deserted, let me tell you it was indeed deserted. But the beautiful views of the green hills made the walk quite pleasant. Once in a while, I would pass by the local people there and I would just greet them with a "ni hao" or simply smiled.



I wondered what building this is!



Maybe it's one of those outdoor toilets so I was not too keen to find out!

Further down the road, I saw some small farms and fruit plantation.



See the fruits?



Wonder what fruits these are? Pears?



If only Jam was not sick, he would be here with me, probably talking to some of the local people and asking them about these fruits! Oh, well...

Look at what I found!



An old fashioned water pump!



I guess the locals here still use this instead of modern taps!

All along the village road, I tried to search for the mountain trail on my right side. There were actually a few right lanes. Which was the correct one?

I actually tried all of them! But all of them did not lead me anywhere. One or two led me to a dead end.

So I continued walking on the main road and reached here.



This road led me back to the big main road where the bread shop I visited earlier was located! So I was back to square one! I decided to turn back and search for the mountain trail again. I could have missed it!

I think I must have spent almost an hour walking up and down that village road! What a waste of time!

Finally, I bumped into an old lady who was cleaning the compound outside her house. I asked her how to go to the fishing village and she immediately pointed to the lane next to her house. I wondered how I managed to miss that lane! Still, I really think they should put up a signboard or something!

As I was about to enter the lane, I was stopped by the sound of bells ringing. What was that? Then right in front of me, they appeared. I was stunned!

To be continued ....