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Published: February 1st 2010
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After a lazy morning spent sleeping and recovering from the night before, we had grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch and then set out for the tea terraces and a tea village.
En route we saw a fight breaking out between two motorists, one of them a city bus driver. They were really getting in to it and a bit of pushing and poking started just as we drove past. They backed up traffic for a few blocks and did so for so long that people started getting out of their cars and off the buses to see what was happening. Our second bus finally arrived when the traffic started to move--we were off!
We arrived at the village around 4pm... only a few hours later than we had originally planned. We walked through the village and everyone (and I do mean EVERY one) kept asking us if we wanted to buy tea. Which we didn't. Since it's a bit touristy the prices are bound to be higher, especially for a group with two foreigners. The village was small and parts were really old and looking a bit unloved. Other parts are brand new but built to look like the
old style. Old and new side by side.
After our self-guided tour of the village we climbed up into the hills to see the tea terraces. Rows upon rows of bushes, as far as the eye could see. They climbed up hills and surrounded us like we were in a valley of tea. Well, not like, we were in a valley of tea. We kept climbing up and up, hoping to make it to the top and see the spectacular view of the other side. But it was just like San Francisco; just when you think you've made it to the top of the hill, more hill appears.
We took photos of each other with, "the tea... stuff," as I eloquently put it at one tired moment. The lighting wasn't what I had hoped for due to the weather and the late hour, but I think my photos really do capture the feeling of the area well.
We had dinner in the village. It was cooked by a lady with lots of dried and preserved meat hanging in her kitchen. She had piles of various green vegetables on the tables. An old man sat at the kitchen
table eating dinner.
They set up a table for us in the big dining room and poured us some longjing (dragon well) tea. We warmed our hands on our cups while we waited. Our food arrived quickly and was delicious. I have never had such flavorful green vegetables! We all ate quickly, constantly commenting how good the food was and how fantastic the views had been. We had a dish of dried tofu with green veggies, bok choy, a vegetable that resembled a cucumber and Wade and Jodie enjoyed a dish made from peppers and salty pork.
We caught the last bus back to town, tired and satisfied.
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