171. HUNAN PROVINCE - KALTXI !

That's HELLO! in Na'vi speak!

My main reasons for this field trip is to check out the spectacular highs and lows of Zhangjiajie...the other reason - the old town of Fenghuang...I call it a field trip because of the climbing and walking involved - why do I subject myself to this torture? It has to be the masochist in me...

Location shoot of Avatar, the movie...

Mother's handiwork is art to me, these are sculptures - to the unobservant, they're rocks...
A very ancient land indeed...

This high speed lift and several loooong escalators took me deep into the bowels of the earth and to the treetops to have a sense of moving between the pinnacles the way the Na'vi did, but at a snail's pace given the steps...

























There were at least 11 of these extra long people movers...

Like gorgeous ink paintings...this field trip took me by road on the usual long bus rides, by boats, by cable car, elevators, escalators - ever higher - for the final descent had to walk 2,888 steps down the mountain - geez!

The Chinese love walkways hugging cliffs. In the more remote non-touristy regions, it's a mere ledge or a rope bridge or a ladder of sorts hammered into the cliffs...how do we compete with a people with such strong minds that conquer difficult terrains or seemingly impossible situations? Everything they can possibly create is to make statements to show the world what they can do and do it well without imported labour...they have lots - cheap, skillful...

What's a field trip to China without mountains, valleys and rivers? They do have really nice scenic spots but their modern structures are cold and impersonal, as with all shiny concrete and glass monstrosities...

The much touted glass walkway - not as frightening as made out to be - if you don't look down at its highest drop -
which is this cliff...

Bungy jumping will become a regular festival, beginning with this event coming up...

This rest point is the half-way mark walking down from the bridge along those cliff-hanging stairs/decks - it's 2888 steps down to earth...

Every province seems to have its ancient town. Hunan has Fenghuang, otherwise known as Phoenix Town, which is not as newish as some other 'ancient' restored towns. This place has character - its old buildings have distinctive roofs, some may have been added on but the older ones that still stand have been tastefully restored, I like especially their tiled clay roofs which are stacked on and held down by its own weight...appears that way...

Like especially these stilt houses but behind them a new development which dosen't quite blend

It dripped most of that day which gave the place an ethereal glow - the mist added to its dreamlike ambience...my favourite spot on this trip - I'm just thankful it didn't pour

BYO baby chair!

Fresh out of the river, these little critters were kicking and crawling when they went into the pan

Pounding the peanut candy must bring out its oil making it better...it was certainly fragrant...

When there are so many alleys they need to be creative to attract eyeballs - certainly attracted mine

Tunnel vision

The little critter made a home in quaint Fenghuang

  This stump appears to be dug up from some clearance work, left for dead, but sprung new life and now takes pride of place on this deck - it's installation art to me...

A new monstrosity with sexy curves coming up fast

Solar panels for street lighting. We have so much sun all year round, can't we do the same?

Literally Window/Door to the Sky/Heaven - Tienmen San is what I came to gawk at. I felt let down by the fog but several minutes later, it lifted and lo! 

The man himself - Mao Zedong- and his ancestral village home in ShaoShan...

All I need as a takeaway is this bag and cap for the closet communist in me...

They're so good at faking it, I'm not sure if the waterfall up there is genuine...

The carps are real not some robotic AI thingy...!

Grand entrance - lavish chandelier

Enterprising street masseurs for after that climb

Well and good till very strong winds destabilise the contraption

This art gallery is my kind of place. It's ces't magnifique - first time I'm looking at sand painting with colored sand granules, dried twigs and bark, cut real small and glued on to give texture and form. I've long admired Chinese brush ink paintings and calligraphy but this is something else...

My pictures don't do them credit...believe me, they're fabulous

Shadow puppets - a dying art everywhere. Puppet masters lament how the young don't want to learn the art or have no interest nor pride in their heritage. I heard the same in Myanmar, Bali and Yogyakarta. In Malaysia, it used to be public entertainment in the East Coast states, it probably has died off as I've not come across 'wayang kulit' in the longest time (that's skin dramas - as the puppets are fashioned from cow hide)