zimatravels

This is an excerpt from my book, Memoirs of a Middle-aged Hummingbird, published in 2006.  The journal entry is dated April 20, 1993.

Even though I’ve been to China so many times, there are always unexpected adventures.  This time, a group of us went together to some beautiful mountains.  All Chinese seem to love standing in front of a stone marked often in red Chinese characters with the name of the scenic spot we are standing on.  I have zillions of pictures of people taking pictures of other people.  No one can understand why I like to take pictures of the scenic spot itself, without anyone in it.

As we were walking down a particularly steep hill, I began to wonder if my middle-aged body could make the climb back up.  Curiously, at the same time I was having my doubts, a young man carrying a rope started to accompany us.  I didn’t  know why he kept following us, but his mission soon became clear.  These are young mountain dwellers who sell their services to carry people back up the mountain.  Other helpers and sedan chairs await down below while he tries to “rope in” riders.  The rope becomes useful when you agree to hire his muscles.

I was somewhat dubious that they could carry me up the mountain since I probably outweighed two of them together.  However, I also knew I’d have quite a time walking back up.  So, I hired sedan chairs and carriers for each of us.  We must have made quite a sight indeed snaking back up the path.  To my relief, their wiry legs were capable of carrying even my weight, and they slid into an easy swaying rhythm that felt like I was softly flying slightly above the mountain trail.  I gasped a bit when I saw we were about to cross a stream, but they didn’t even break their stride on conveniently-placed stones.

I was both relieved and sad when my first, and perhaps only, ride in a sedan chair up a mountain came to an end.