Stacia and Cathy and a giant deity on top of a temple in the background (see next photo)
said giant deity
Cathy on our swank balcony to the spacious comfy room adjoining the main temple complex
View from the balcony - not bad! ; )
A little bit about what is here. Zoom in if you can.
Hazy late morning light. I love those mountains in shades of blue
A dragon in the sky?
Dragons abound
Decor outside of a temple. I'm sure it's laden with meaning, of which I am currently shamelessly ignorant.
Rich paying his respects
The Buddha on the left, with a Goddess of Wisdom on the right (there was one on each side of him.)
Goddess of Wisdom.
A cool spider dude.
Our new friend - a dragon in caterpillar form.
Cathy has a great close up of this guy here:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30504672&id=1242641581 She also has some fabulously different points of view of the trip in that album
I love candid shots.... hehehe
Hello, bluebird!
Its feathers reflected light like jewels!
the forest
GuanYin, I think
I haven't even tried to translate this. It looks cool though.
Christmas is a-comin'!
The valley below
Intricate carving in a ceiling inlay
Mmmm sunset... we were definitely in for a treat
Silly drawing games
The next morning dawned bright and fresh... What a view to wake up to!
I think that plan is about to eat the gazebo, or at least the snack cart lady
Damon and Cathy each get a Lovers' Latte... whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles and a shot of the good stuff! How could you not fall in love!
My hardly--humble cappuccino.
Rich makes another friend
Heehee...
Damon going solo
This is a series of "band shots"... You know, for when we get a band. We'll be all ready with the promotional material.
Stacia is very excited about the tower.
Uh, guys... look UP!
This is the crematorium ovens. Actually this whole tower structure turned out to be where ashes are stored after cremation on the upper open levels.
Appropriate to have a Phoenix around - life always transforming itself into new forms, rising from the ashes.
View into the hazy valley below
Hmm... I guess this must've been some sort of obstacle course for... military purposes? The ropes were a bit green with age
The main temple complex at Shitou Shan. Our room was on the rightmost side somewhere.
Getting back to nature - just what the doctor ordered! (or he should have, anyway! ; )
Some Taoist deities
Matreiya, the Laughing Buddha
Rows and rows and rows and rows of GuanYin. Can't have too much compassion in the world - bring it on!
Rich took these great shots
Real actual molted snake skin! I took it to school to show my kids!
Trees shaped by the wind
An unexpected flower garden
The SEA of dragons crowning the temple roofs
This Coke machine was SOO old-school! The Coke tasted like it came from pre-ward days, too!
A little froggie in the stone lion's mouth
An older-than-time pooch we met waiting for our train bak home.
