The Start of a Grand Adventure

We started out on our grand adventure on January 1st. Talk about hitting the ground running this year! I traveled with Brett and Alex to Beijing. We met up with Danny there, and enjoyed our first western-style meal of many to come in the next few weeks.



View from the first of many train rides (16 to be exact...)

Lunch at Pete's Mexican Restaurant. Yum!!



Luoyang
Our first destination after Beijing was a city named Louyang. Louyang is located near the Longmen Grattoes and the Shaolin Temple. There is nothing spectacular about the city itself, but the surrounding attractions were quite awesome.

The Longmen Grattoes are caves/rocks covered in Buddhist carvings. This was quite a sight to see. Many of the carvings had their heads knocked off (a result of the Cultural Revolution...)

A landscape view of the Longmen Grattoes

A close-up view. Notice the many missing faces!

 

And here is a rendering of the original diva (left.) Note the small man underneath the diva. As it should be.

Here is the tallest Buddha

See how little Danny is! I told you it was a big Buddha.

Bundled up Nicolette. So cold!!

I love doors!

And bridges...

And pillars?

 
The Shaolin Temple was the starting place of martial arts. This place was so cool! I loved the architecture of the buildings and the temple's beautiful location in the mountains. I can only imagine perfecting my sweet kung fu skills on the mountain peaks. It would be pretty bomb.com.

This is one of my favorite pictures. I love the architecture of the roof. Plus, there is a tree involved. Loves it.

Awkward turtle...

This was a crazy old tree in the Temple.

The Pagoda Forest. The tombs of old monks were here.

Here is the view from a cable car through the mountainside near the Shaolin Temple. Gorgeous!

The mountains near The Shaolin Temple. Breath-taking!