The Mountain Vista Hotel was built on a grand scheme and maybe hosted some significant dignitaries at one time but now it is showing some signs of neglected maintenance. Our first clue was the shower was cold on the last day it warmed to tepid.
After our mediocre breakfast buffet, I wondered the large lobby noting the large heavy leather couch and throne chair by the unlit fireplace on the opposite end of the foyer was a larger polished scholar stone maybe 4’ + in its stand, I was frustrated that the lighting was so poor that I could not get a good clear photograph.
Shortly, Ross walked up the side stairs. The back wall contained of the lobby consisted of a large marble (like) wide central stairs flanked by the two elevators; although I had walked down the stairs on the other side last night to find the bar I hadn’t noticed opposite stairs Ross’s entrance peeked my curiosity about these and I noticed the expanse of windows on the lower level for the first time.
The windows extended for floor to ceiling and the full length to this section of the building. Most notable were the six large and jade and marble carvings which were lined along the window. Each of the stones was a large as the stone in the foyer but intricately carved. I was fascinated but there was no one to explain the history of the stones to me. My only recourse was to take several photos; these stones represented the former opulence of the hotel.
We practice in what was probably a small garden, with a stone bridge crossing a small meditation pool, overhanging trees, with an assortment of large irregular rocks akin to a mountain roadside scene. Unfortunately the deferred maintenance had taken its toll and the pool was close to stagnant with some cans and bottles lining the bottom along with a few coins. The garden was enclosed on three sides by the hotel, the dining hall and kitchen, and a separate unused hall of some sort. The entrance to the garden had a trellis with several rows of dead flowers making up the fourth side.
Hotel kitchen staff traveling to and from the kitchen passed quietly through the garden as we worked through a Qigong set followed by the 24 form. Even with my tight ankle I began to experience more calm and tried to work through the pain in my ankle to start relearning the form. A good morning.
The summer resort (palace) was on our afternoon schedule. This was the final home for the Qing dynasty Empress dowager. The palace although smaller than the Forbidden City the former opulence was quite evident and looked similar but with some obvious tourist focal points such as a hall of wax figures representing several Emperors while listing their virtues.
The palace compound emptied onto a large manmade lake with numerous trails, paddle boats, and small walking bridges. Today is Sunday and there are many families strolling around the park. It is off season so most of the concessions are closed. I loved watching several families circle the lake in paddle boats powered by child labor. A very tranquil setting. We stopped and Laoshi stated that the group was going to walk around the tip of the lake (there was a temple on a hill far in the distance) and suggested that I rest here while they completed the long trek but they would rejoin me after they had completed the trail.
We had stopped just to the left fork in the trail and a sign noting that the park was part of the China Park System. Across the curved foot bridge, from where I set, was a small pavilion encircled by a path, and across the lake to my right was another set of pavilions at lake level and going up the far hill. I was content to watch and meditate.
As the group was beginning to leave an old man came up and asked where I was from in Chinese. I don’t hear phrases well in Mandarin but when someone restated his question in English; I responded, “Wǒ shì Měi guó rén” (I am American). Immediately the old man broke into song, “The Star Spangled Banner”, in Chinese. We all smiled and he sang to me I was humbled and almost teary eyed. I thanked him; he and my group proceeded along the sidewalk trail.
My rest was occasional interrupted by a request for a photo. I took small jaunts along the lake enjoying the beautiful day, smiling at babies, and consciously eaves dropping on conversations to see if I could guess what people were talking about. My short wandering led me across the small foot bridge leading to the small pavilion, I had notice earlier. Walking around the pavilion there were young lovers, several martial arts practitioners, friends in deep discussion, children capturing bugs in the lake, a lone fisherman, and peace.
As I approached the pavilion I heard singing and a strange high pitched screeching sound. I walked around the pavilion looking for the singing and on the interior of the pavilion I found about 7 or 8 people gathered around a man playing an Erhu (small two stringed Chinese instrument). Quietly I sat and watched along with two other wanderers. The music made my Sunday afternoon; I applauded when they finished and went on my way.
The sun was fading as dusk claimed the day; my colleagues came back from an obviously long walk, they looked tired. I guess my serenader had followed them on part of their walk and sang more than they needed to hear. We straggled back to the hotel but were driven in the van back to our earlier Muslim restaurant for dinner.
Returning to the hotel several us noted that some of the shops we had looked in yesterday were still open. Now was my time to purchase a scholar stone in China. We discussed the shops again and I asked Harrison to go with me to translate my negotiation. Originally, I had planned to purchase the plain smaller stone ($80) but when I looked at both stones again I knew that this might be my only opportunity to purchase a dynamic stone at a reasonable price. The shop owner wanted 3600 Yuan ($590) for the stone; I was willing to pay 3000 Yuan. The negotiation between Harrison and the owner discussed the quality of the stone and its value; the proprietor noted that this is off season and during the busy season he mark the piece at 6800 Yuan ($1115). Harrison and I agreed about the value of the stone and pricing, I wanted to try again at 3200 Yuan but he now had quoted Harrison 3200 Yuan.
During the negotiation, the proprietress returned listened to the negotiation and at me and began to find materials to wrap the stone for transportation. In the meantime, a small scruffy man came into the store lighted a cigarette and stood directly under my left elbow with smoke wafting in our faces; I shooed him away with the help of the woman. She brought out a box and continued to pack the piece. I conceded, at Harrison’s insistence, that 3200 Yuan (about $524.59) was the best price I was going to get.
Although, credit cards and debit cards work in China’s banking system, most retailers did not process plastic; therefore, instead of running to the nearest ATM at the end of the block Harrison paid 3000 Yuan with me making up the 200 Yuan difference. I now own a gem for my 3 stone collection but I also owe Harrison 3000 Yuan. The woman had almost completed the packing and the man carried the stone around the corner to the hotel lobby.
We met Vincent and the driver in the lobby and the proprietor, Vincent, and the driver exchanged pleasantries. The proprietor explained value of my purchase and it was agreed that instead of lugging a 35 lbs. rock upstairs and back, while I’m with the crutch that the most secure place for the stone was the van and we proceeded to lock the stone in the van.
I felt victorious. I ran into Bob and Jacob in the “bar”; we were the only occupants.
Tomorrow, the Great Wall.
See photo gallery, http://www.phillbriscoe.com/china-october-2013/cheng-de/.