Day Two: July 17, 2005

Caught in the rain yesterday, I thought I was fully prepared today.
However, the chilly temperature on South Hill got me again. Though the sun hangs high in the sky, I couldn't help trembling when a gentle breeze passed me. My accompanies began to make fun of my slippers, which looked funny on a person who was carrying a bulk camera and climbing a steep hill.

Yes, I knew it was a wrong choice...

 The local herdsmen gathered around us when we started climbing. They tried hard to persuade us to ride their horse. Our tour guide had warned us not to because of the nonstop rain yesterday. It can be very slippy and dangerous. It is not hard to imagine that on my way up, I could see not only green grass and trees, blue sky and white clouds, but also excrement of horses and mud.

My poor leather slippers....

I firmly refused the kind suggestion from the local herdsmen but kept taking pictures of them. Some of them were wearing masks to escape the smell from horse excrement.  Fortunately I took a shot of a horse shitting at the spot. It made me laugh. Suddenly I felt so relaxed and totally forgot my slippers and the abrupt hill that I was going to conquer.

The hill is a newly developed tourist site. Some Kazakhstan tents are specially made to attract tourists. I could see white tents spotted on the hill. When i look up, the blue sky meets the top of a snow mountain in distance.

I took a deep breath, to enjoy this luxury. The air is very fresh, smelling like the soil under my feet. When I closed my eyes, I could hear the sound of the breeze. How I wish the time could stand still and let me have this moment forever.

It is at this wonderful moment that I thought of my loved ones. I began to feel guilty to enjoy the beauty alone. I took as many pictures as I could to take the scenery back home.

I hope they can enjoy this clean land as much as I did.

(CRIENGLISH.com)

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