CINDY TJAHJADI

Hiking in winter, why not? We are the winter soldier! LOL

Sounds crazy if we're hiking in winter season. I've read some article guide to Yellow Mountain which says Yellow Mountain is one of the mountain in China that you can hike in the winter. Moreover, Yellow Mountain offers 'The Sea of Clouds' scenery that we can only see while in Winter. Mostly, sea of clouds on hilltops would appear after rain and snow. The clouds and fogs would surround us with their cotton looks at the same time! That's what I was looking for back then! Actually, Yellow Mountain offers 4 scenery that we can enjoy in 4 different seasons! In Summer, it will offer the clear Yellow Mountain that we can see all of the mountain structure clearly and the green trees. In Fall, it will offer the cool breeze, the mountain structure with fogs and the orange trees. In Spring, it will still offer the cool breeze from the winter but the bloomed springs flowers will make the scenery more beautiful. What's your choice? :)) And... How's about the winter? Take a look on my journey! :)) 

The Chinese elders says hike in the winter is good for our health. Besides that activity keep making our body warm and accelerate our blood's circulate, we can upgrade the stamina too! No wonder I had met a lot of  Chinese elders (around on their 50's and 60's) were hiking with us at that time. Even my stamina is not better than those elders. LOL

Is it cold?

I remembered, that day was 3 Celsius degree. Even in the morning, it was 1 Celsius degree. BUT! Interestingly... My mom and I could take a shower in the morning, guys! LOL. It's cold but it's warm enough if you wear heat-tech long sleeve cloth, sweater, heat-tech outwear, scarf, heat-tech socks, shoes, beanie, and mask. Why beanie? For covering the ears if you don't bring any earmuff. We must keep our ears warm to keep our balance temperature in the cold. And... The last but not least, The bottles of mineral water! Keep our body hydrated!! Yasss!!

Sunrise in the morning

You know how much the chance to see sunrise in the winter? Thomas said the chance was only 10% that day. And... The chance to see the clear Yellow Mountain was only 20% and it just would happen only at eight to ten o'clock in the morning. Hope? Hopeless. Remembered on the day before, Mom and I got nothing of the 'should' of Yellow Mountain even it was a nice hiking. Even i knew that fact, I didn't want miss any chance to see what I want. Even yesterday was nice but that's not what I want. I woke up at 4.30 and hiked up to the other peak, the best spot to see the sunrise. It's convenient and my privilege to book the hotel room on the top of mountain. I had flexible access time to see the sunset or sunrise. 5.00 a.m. in the morning, the cable car is still unavailable. So, Sunrise is a privilege to the guest on the top of mountain, guys!

It's still dark here! The steps were steep.Need more attention rather than on the daylight. That's why I disallow my mother to hike up. Even Thomas said that too. Too dark and too steep! Even I need the flashlight to guide my steps into the peak. 

Sunrise? What's sunrise? LOL. 




It meant my last chance only at that eight o'clock before I went back to Shanghai. I couldn't extend my day here since I've already booked train and didn't want to ruin my next schedule. Remembered, the sea of clouds's chance is also 30%. I would just think maybe today was not the day. Maybe next trip would be better. Yes, I'll be back to Yellow Mountain for the other peaks in the other seasons. :))

If I think positive maybe I can turn out the tables. The forest wasn't bad, guys! The forest in the dawn was so beautiful! The light attempted to going through the tree leaves. What a beautiful! Have you watched music video of Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift? I thought I was in that Music Video! LOL It even became better when I sang that song (as if I was Taylor. I'm sorry!)




Back to the hotel, had a breakfast, were ready to check out at 8.00 a.m., in case we could see something while were going back. For your information, to go back we need to go back to the first point. It means... Keep hiking, guys! You weren't finished yet! Need to hike to go home! LOL I was so proud of my mom back then. I was sooooo tired! So I could feel how would she feel. The double extra of me! That's why I was so proud. Even until know, I'm still so proud. Such as precious memories! For those big effort, my mom and I kept praying and still hoping on this last chance...  The last minutes...









I didn't write and express this story dramatically. That really happened in the last minutes! 





Those different scenery happened just for 10 minutes, guys! Then, the fogs came again and surrounded us and it looked like as the yesterday scenery. LOL. Imagine how we took the photo plus enjoy those magical phenomenon just for 10 minutes! Wow! 





I just could Thank God for the chance! We felt so lucky and felt special back then because we were becoming the part of 30% who could see the sea of clouds in winter. Beautiful scenery! Do you know what I more thank? Beautiful scenery + Beautiful mom's big smile. I still can remember that picture right now. Hehehe. Hopeless? Yes. Give up? No.

My mom kept saying, "Wow, this was like heaven like what I see (on Television)." "I was so grateful that I could still hike and see this beautiful scenery." "Every one who still has their stamina should see  this." "I would never forget this beautiful experience." "This was so great! *big smile. Tell me! Who won't be happy if hear those statement as a daughter? 

"I won't forget that moment too, mom!"




Anyway... How long we hiked + walked? So, from the cable car we should hike around 2 Kms, then from the hotel to the bright peaks was 4 Kms, the bright peaks to hotel 4 Kms, hotel to sunset peak round trip was 2 Kms, hotel to sunrise peak round trip was 2 Kms, Hotel to the other clear spot round trip was 2 Kms, That spot to cable car was 1 Kms, so the total we hiked and walked was 17 Kms for 2 days! Congratulation! LOL! Don't worry! The steps were safe and have many Bordes to take a fresh breath. Yes, the air were so fresh. I love it! It's like I cleaned my lungs! :))

Took all of those sweet moment with us, saved them on our hearts, and open it once again when we need the smile. And now we're ready to back to Shanghai. Thank you Huangshan, Thank you Yellow Mountain, It was a nice trip like what I want! :))

Do you have any question about this trip? Ask me on the comment's box below! Nice to help you for having a wonderful time with your beloved!










  

"Something that I can lean on while having life is called memories. 

Memories which stayed in the past time just could be happened 

when I do that something in the present."

Hike in the Winter? Why Not?



Good morning! Yes, it's good morning to continue the story when I traveled to Huangshan with my mom. It was 8.00 a.m., the time that my guide (Thomas) and I agreed to meet at the lobby hotel to start the day trip. Thomas already told us to separate our belongings which we should take those to the Yellow Mountain. We're not allowed to bring the luggage, big carrier, or many bags. According to him, he said it would be our burdened while we hiked up (heavy and the road was slippery back then). It made sense but I suggest you to bring the backpack at least, which can pack the clothes, outwears, medicines, mineral waters for you and your mom to prevent anything that we don't want. The track is safe but the problem is there's just a forest (no seller) while you hike up and the weather is unknown. We never know the mother of nature mood on that day, right? It was better to have heavy backpack than my mom was thirsty. :))

It took us an hour to arrive at foot of the mountain. Thanks to Thomas, we could be on the schedule and didn't have any problems cause by Mandarin. :') To reach the 'real' Yellow Mountain, we should take the bus first and cable car. The road has many sharp turns, climbs, and contortions following the contour of the mountain. 

"Put your safety belt or we couldn't and wouldn't depart!" said the conductor. 

Wuuu... I love that uncle's attitude. Then, here we us after 15 minutes!

I could say the weather was not too good enough to take the cable car, guys! :') Not black out, it's white out! I couldn't see the mountain, the cliff, the sunlight, or the sky, I just could see the fog, the black cable, and the pillar of the cable. :') Negative thought came, "Even if our cable car had free fall, no one would know and see." :') After another 15 minutes passed, we arrived at the 'entrance' of the Yellow Mountain. Just the entrance, guys! The real journey just will begin from here! :')

I had booked the hotel at the mountain before, North Xihai Hotel. The price was quite expensive actually but it's worthy after having nice experience because stayed at this mountain. It costed me around 840 Yuan/night by booking it on trip.com. It will cost you a lot if you booked on another application or even on the spot. 840 Yuan by booking it on trip. com and 1.530 Yuan by the other application. For China trip, I would like to recommend trip.com for booking the hotels and the train tickets. 

It's 10.00 a.m. while we reached the entrance. And... It took us 2 hours to reach our hotel by walking, hiking, and climbing the stairs. How many steps? Even I couldn't have a mind to count the steps while I counted on my breath. I'm 25 guys! :') Then, how about my mom? :)

I've heard this information before I went here, they said there's a human porter for who don't have any stamina to continue the journey. Once you climb up, there's no turning back because you will have the same route to go back. They said that service fee is around 400 Yuan and 800 Yuan for round trip. Fortunately, we had booked our hotel in the middle of the mountain so we could take some rest before we climb up or before we go back.

I felt sorry to my mom due the track and the bad weather but in the other side I was also proud of her. She wanted it and she did it. She climbed up step by step and could manage her breath well. Thanks to Thomas again because he was so patient to climb with us without any complaints. He's a good local guide, guys! 

There are so many peaks at Yellow Mountain, we chose the Brights Summit Peak since the track was moderate and it just took us 4 hours to have a round trip. The others peaks would take more hours to reach so we would skip in this trip. Remembered the bad weather and my mom's condition, we would just enjoy the beauty of the mother's nature. Hmmm... How's bad? Back then, we hiked on January 8 when the temperature was at 3 Celcius degrees. A lot of fogs, the haze was melting like a drizzle, the wind was coming from many directions, and it's dry at the same time too. That's why the bottles of mineral water are important! Not enough if only you have a bottle when you were with your mom. My mom needed more mineral water than me. 







What Will You Find While Hike to Bright Summit Peak?

1. Family Pine Tree 

Thomas said this pine tree looks alike a family so they named it Family Pine Tree

Yeay!! Finally we reach the Brights Summit Peak on 1860 mdpl! Wohooo! We did it mom! I was so proud of you back then! Without complaining, kept going, and persistent! Lol! Look what we saw back then... Fog, guys! :') But, we were so happy! It's like the other accomplishment in life. I had never imagine before to hike with my mom on a 'such' track (Once again, I'm sorry Mom!). Sure, it was a wonderful memory to have it with Mom. I've never imagine to my mom would reach it too! Thomas also encouraged her by saying she could do it, just took the time well. And... That trip day became an unusual hike trip. Enjoying the beautiful view, relaxed hiking, but had proud on our soul and mind too at the same time. I'd like to recommend this hike trip! Yesss!!!

"Teng-Tong-Teng-Tong." My mom's Cinderella clock was ringing just right when we reached our hotel. Since we have gotten nothing, Thomas asked me to take another chance to catch the sunset at 5 p.m. on the other peak. My mom was too tired so she decided to stay at the room. :') I hope a lot for this chance to get the 'real' Yellow Mountain's beauty. But after walked 1 km, I thought maybe not today maybe not this chance too! Bye Huangshan's sunset! :')

Not stopped put an effort, Thomas asked me if I wanted to take the other chance to see sunrise on tomorrow morning. Didn't want to skip another chance, I said absolutely YES! I love his attitude how he's willing and put some efforts so we could get the best trip and see how the Yellow Mountain should be. How nice this uncle was! And... I just couldn't ignore it! :))

SO... WOULD WE GET THE SUNRISE? WOULD WE SEE THE GREAT YELLOW MOUNTAIN?

SEE YOU IN THE NEXT ARTICLE, GUYS!

Oh yeah! Before closing the story on this article, I'd like to inform that everything on the mountain is expensive. Not quite expensive but IT'S EXPENSIVE! Mineral water 600 ml for 20 Yuan, Mineral water 1,5 L for 40 Yuan, Small packed of peanuts for 30 Yuan, Rice for 10 Yuan, and Beer for 40 Yuan. No wonder, the workers must carry all of the groceries on their shoulder, walk, and hike on the same route like us. I was so amazed by their willing to get some money. Two thumbs up uncles! Your stamina must be good! And keep healthy!

Sessssh... Sessshhh... Sessshhh... How the engine sounded. That's not sounded Tut Tut Tut anymore. Indeed, the bullet train is different! The skies was clear and good enough to  enjoy the scenery through the window which the scenes changed quickly from the big city to suburban. That's also made us not felt the time went pass by too. And... After almost 4 hours on the train finally we arrived at Huangshan North Station, Anhui Province! 

The bullet train just stopped for a few minutes in this station so we should bring out all of our belongings fast and make sure didn't left anything behind. Don't throw away the ticket too! Because, we need it to get out through the exit gate machine without any problems and waste the time. Don't forget to hold hands your mom too, there were many people too who got off in this station too! :))

Welcome to Huangshan!

Yes! Finally my mom and I arrived at Huangshan, not yet at Huang (Mountain) Shan (Yellow) or Yellow Mountain. We just arrived at Huangshan North and would move to the Tunxi District which the location is suitable to stroll around and rest before hike to the Yellow Mountain. Tunxi District is a district which located before the Yellow Mountain, from that district we just would take an hour to the Yellow Mountain by the car. I got this suggestion from my local tour guide in Huangshan, Thomas. He said it would be better for us to stay at Tunxi District before we hike up. 

If you take the bullet train from Shanghai, the most earlier speed train is at around 7 a.m.. If we take that early bullet train, we will arrive at 11 a.m. right? From Huangshan North Station to Yellow Mountain will take 2 hours. From the Yellow Mountain enter gate to the cable car will take around 30 minutes, if we take the provided bus directly. From cable car to the site, it will take 10 minutes. And... The most important thing is from the site to the hotel or the Yellow Mountain, it will take around 40 minutes to an hour to arrive at the hotel. We will arrive at the real Yellow Mountain at 3 p.m.! We don't hike up yet! To reach the first summit we need more 2 hours. I think that's not ideal if we go to the Yellow Mountain directly. 

First, we already tired before we enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Yellow Mountain. Second, we would be in hurry due the sunset and back before the night. Especially, I would hike up with my mom so it's impossible to hike down on the night. The safety, guys! Third, we won't know if at that hour we can see the clear scenery yet. That means we just depend on that chance at that only hour. Forth, spend the night just for sleep and do nothing on tomorrow just waste the money for the expensive hotel on the top of mountain! It's better do 3 days 2 night in Huangshan, guys! I will share it why on my next article, because it's worth it! And... Thanks to this suggestion, my mom and I had a nice trip and Huangshan that we will always remember. 

We didn't want to waste the time, took the taxi that we got barely (it's too quiet here!) after managed to check in on 3 p.m.. Directly, we went to the Tunxi Old Street (Tunxi Laojie)! If we search the tourism attraction place in Huangshan on the website, mostly Tunxi Old Street and Hongchun Village will be on the top search. It's like the most and a must visit place while in Huangshan. It's impossible to us to visit Hongchun Village due the far location, it's near the Yellow Mountain, guys! So, we decided to not go there, visit the Tunxi Old Street instead. 

It's near with our hotel, it took around 10 minutes by taxi. The fare was affordable too, I just pay the first fare (14 Yuan).

It's an old street which has the heritage buildings from Song and Ming Dynasty and is used for commercial function, the traditional market now. For me, the architecture is unique and beautiful as it is. It has a different style if I compared to the heritage buildings in Yu Garden, Shanghai. Interesting, isn't it? Yes, the other knowledge and experiences here, guys! Hihihi

As I predicted, this city was quite guys! As the sun went down and the clock's needle was almost at the center, the passing vehicles has decreased. Even it just a slight of the private cars which passed the road. Taxi? It's like looking for a needle in the straw back then! Lol! 30 minutes passed when we walked and looked for the taxi. Finally, we got it and went back to the hotel.

However, this old street was so fascinating! It's so worthy that we could spend our time to visit here. Besides of the beautiful heritage buildings and the 'Huangshan' goods, the ambience was so calming  and so China... For me, Tunxi Old Street is a must place to visit while you in Huangshan but don't forget how to go back to hotel! Lol!

Anyway... Thank you guys for reading this article. This article is H-1 before I hiked up to the Yellow Mountain. To hike the Yellow Mountain, we need many preparation especially if you go to there with your mom too! I will share those preparation and our experiences in Yellow Mountain on the next article so see ya, guys!

Love from the author,

Cindy Tjahjadi