Lavender Blue (Dilly, Dilly)

(Not quite a one-hit wonder, this is one of Sammy Turner’s hits in the late 1950s.  Find it on YouTube.)

Sichuan Day 4, Part 1

From the day I arrived in China years ago, my now good friend MQ has been telling me that I MUST go to Jiu Zhai Gou, a national park in Sichuan Province.  He said this place is regarded by many as the most beautiful natural place in China.  Jiu Zhai Gou (pronounced “Jew Jye Go”) is the main reason X23 and I came to Sichuan, and now, on Day 4, we’re finally off to this “paradise” by a short plane ride.

The airport is high up in the mountains on a plateau, and thus we had to take a long taxi ride down into the town of Jiu Zhai Gou.  On the way there, the taxi driver pointed out that it’s much colder here than in Chengdu, whereupon X23 realized that she didn’t have a jacket.  Thus the taxi driver took us first to a sporting goods store on the outskirts of town where X23 bought the needed apparel.

Across the street from the store was a field of lavender, and I couldn’t resist having photo of me in my customary pensive and peaceful mood.

X23 also assumed her customary low-key demeanor.

The route into town reminded me a little of Montana.

The town of Jiu Zhai Gou (as opposed to the national park of the same name) has the colorful prayer flags…

…and colorful buildings typical of Tibetan villages.

We finally arrived at our little hotel, which was on an unassuming side street.

The place was clean but austere.  In the rooms there are no towels or toilet paper.

Hungry.  Always hungry.  Fortunately, X23 has an appetite almost equal to mine.  We set off on foot to find an eating establishment, and around the corner we saw this place.

Who can pass up an opportunity to luncheon at a place with such a welcoming name?

Inside were two tables resentfully squeezed in next to the storage area.

Though not lavish, the place seemed clean enough with clean dishes.

We were greeted warmly by the waitress-owner-cook (and probably also chief bottle washer)…

…who immediately poured us some barley tea, which turned out to be surprisingly delicious.

She helped us select 2 dishes from the menu,…

…which we devoured as if we hadn’t eaten in weeks.

While we were eating, the owner set about to crack a bunch of goose eggs into a trash basket, fortunately lined with a plastic bag.  Maybe French omelets for dinner?

After lunch, we set off to explore the town.

Jiu Zhai Gou is situated in a small valley between two mountains (as valleys are wont to be),…

…with a fast moving stream coursing down the middle.

A quick pause for a little ice cream dessert:

We were reminded occasionally that although this is a big tourist destination, it’s still rural.

Just like everywhere else in China, children often spend their non-school hours in the stores or restaurants where one or both parents work.

We came upon a couple women sitting at a table outside a restaurant.

They were picking unwanted stuff out of some kind or fungus or whatever that falls from nearby trees.  This was destined to be part of the evening’s dinner menu.  Yum.

The people in this part of China have stockier builds than those in northern China.

We continued exploring the side streets…

We saw lots of construction, implying that tourism is growing (which ultimately turned out to all too true, as you will see).

Occasionally we passed prayer wheels that people spin as they walk by.

On the main street you see poor people paid to lure people to hotels.

We finally found a small store that sold towels, and we bought the biggest ones they had.  Honest.

Like most Tibetan villages, Jiu Zhai Gou is a very colorful place, with, as I said, flags everywhere…

…and lavishly painted houses.

There are flowers everywhere, also.

Then we looked up and didn’t quite believe our eyes.

Yes, it was a swastika.

But not quite.

We saw an old woman sitting by herself.

Most Chinese people are reluctant to approach strangers, but not X23.

The woman was saying her prayers with her beads.

The two women hit it off quite well, and they were both smiling when we left.

Back at the hotel, we loafed the rest of the afternoon on the second floor patio,…

…eating some peanuts and some other kind of weird nuts.

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