We're Famous

January 17, 2010

Our journey today began around 8:30 AM. We took a 2 hour bus ride to see the great giant Buddha. On the way a few interesting things happened.

The bus driver randomly pulled off the highway and got off the bus. Our tour guide said that all bus drivers have to show their license and other paperwork to show they are legal to drive. The police check their record to make sure no charges are held against them.

On the way we also experienced our first Chinese rest stop. It was located in the midst of tea farms. The Chinese rest stop is much different than American rest stops. It is an open building. They have many foods made from tea leaves out to sample as well as many types of tea. You walk around and taste all these foods and tea; you can also purchase the ones you like.

We finally arrived where we would view the giant Buddha. We boarded a boat, where we were required to wear hideous orange life vests. It is a rule in the Sichuan province that you must wear a life jacket on the boat. We viewed the giant Buddha from the water’s edge. It was so fascinating. If you drive the boat to the other shore, the mountains that surround the giant Buddha also look like a giant Buddha lying down. It was so amazing to see all this incredibly old history.

We got off the boat and headed to get lunch. We arrived at one of the most sketchiest restaurants I have ever been to. Cleanliness was definitely not a priority. We were served many different types of dishes. My favorite was an egg and tomato combo. I also enjoyed the tofu with tomato and scallions. I didn't realize this, but all Buddhists are vegetarian. Therefore every Chinese restaurant has one or two vegetarian dishes.

We left the restaurant and headed back to the giant Buddha. We hiked up the mountain until we reached the top. It was so fascinating to be eye level with the Buddha’s head as well as look out over thousands and thousands of years of history. Our Wofford group decided to gather for a group picture. However when we were fixing to take it, about 25 Chinese children and teens pulled out their cameras and cell phones and began taking pictures of us. We were famous! One of the Chinese girls asked if she could get a picture with us. Of course we said yes! Well we didn't know that it entailed 20more Chinese kids running to swarm us for pictures. We took many group pictures and then we were pulled aside by different children to get one on one pictures. We felt like famous Americans that the Chinese paparazzi were after!

We walked down the steps lining the side of the Buddha. It was so scary because we were so high up. The staircase was enclosed by rock on one side and a steel railing on the other. It was extremely narrow. It was astonishing to see different parts of the Buddha close up. Although most of the paint has worn off of the Buddha, some color was still visible. The hike back up to the top of the mountain was intense. There were about 314 stairs that were 3 feet tall each -definitely a personal stair master. I just kept thinking, "at least it is toning my thighs and butt!" After the hike back up, we watched a Buddhist ceremony. The monks were switching duties and we got to view the process. It was really interesting to observe another religion and culture.

We loaded the bus again and headed for the hotel. We were all so exhausted. Most of us slept on the way back. Upon arriving at our hotel, 5 of us (students) went to dinner with the professors. We went to a local hole in the wall noodle restaurant. For a side of rice, bowl of noodles, soup and drink it only costs $10 total for 9 people to eat! It was so cool eating at this hole in the wall restaurant. I felt like I was truly eating how the Chinese do.

We came back to our hotel and Emma, Victoria and I piled in one twin bed and watched Juno, an American movie. It was a lot of fun. After that we all went to sleep. Tomorrow we get to see the pandas and I am so stoked!