Bucket List: China's Avatar Mountain

 

It’s been a long time since my last blog entry. So many things had happened. I graduated from a 6 years Residency and Fellowship Training; I’ve been blessed to visit five more countries in a span of just 6 months (will try to tell you wonderful stories about those travels very soon); and I am currently reviewing for my Medical Oncology Diplomate Exam while handling my very FIRST private patient. I am actually in my contemplative self when I decided to write an entry on this blog. Despite all the challenges and tribulations, God has been so good for letting me grow up and for allowing me to develop this unquenchable thirst for life. 

 
 

Last August, I have been very lucky to visit one of the most beautiful places in Southern China, in an all-expense-free 3 days trip. A shout out to my dearest friend/big sister Ma'am Jannel De Castro Villanueva. Thank you so much for making this trip happen Ma'am. I am forever grateful. I never imagined that I will be able to see this magnificent natural geological wonder. It was so surreal! 

So stunning it is that it became the backdrop of James Cameron’s Avatar- the highest grossing movie of all time.

 

 

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park covers 4,810 hectares of land. The Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Area is just one of the four zones declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1992) and a UNESCO Global Geopark (2004).

 

 

Try as I could, I was not able to stop gasping as the scenes unfold before my eyes. The gigantic columns towered above the tapestry of greens and cut through a thin sheet of mists is spectacular. The grey cloud hovered overhead threatening to piss is breathtaking. I realized that when you are standing high and these magical cliffs are at your eye level, there was no point of looking up or looking down. So beautiful it is that I was even crying while marveling these amazing creations.

 

 

 

There are just so many things and surreal about Zhangjaijie. Standing above the sea of fluffy clouds rolling majestically among the towering limestone cliffs is undeniably one of those rare sights that leave an imprint on the heart. It is a kind of experience that changes your life and makes you believe in God.