[Travel Notes] Appreciating Stone·Bright Mind

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Appreciating stones and enlightening one’s mind

——You Xing Wen Shi Hai Ji

When we entered the mountains in the early morning, the fresh air hit our faces. I don’t know whether it was the hazy mountain fog or my eyes that were blurred. Everything in front of me seemed like a dream. Below is the forest sea, with the wind blowing green and the sound of the waves; above is the stone cliff, with shining brown walls and beautiful mountains. When I first entered the Xingwen Stone Sea Scenic Area, I was dazzled by the layers of colorful skirts that immediately came into view. The skirts drooped like tassels, the bright broken silver, and the beautiful hem patterns. The beauty of the folk costumes of the Miao girls gradually made me wake up, but this was just the beginning. The curtain of the beautiful scenery of Shihai was gradually opening.

Although it is a world geopark, it not only reveals a majestic and profound atmosphere, but also presents a happy and lively scene. For example, the scene of "sheep going up the mountain" is formed by numerous white stone buds. The stone buds of different shapes are like sheep. They are fat and strong, cute and pleasing. They can walk, lean, or lie on their backs. Being there, I seemed to have the temperament of a shepherd who spurred his sheep. But I am an unsociable traveler, so I crept into it. I was afraid of disturbing the peaceful sheep that were grazing, and I was also worried that I would be knocked to the ground by the sheep "going up the mountain" behind me... I really blended into the snow-white scenery. Among the sheep, you can see the beauty and charm of nature.

Speaking of "sheep going up the mountain", "Couple Peak" is also an excellent scenic spot that must be mentioned. Two stone pillars with strange shapes, after being processed by the brain's imagination, vividly became two people, a man and a woman. The man stands upright, with jade trees facing the wind, handsome and unrestrained; the woman bows, respecting each other as guests and treating each other with courtesy. The sudden twin peaks rising from the flat ground really make people marvel at how people have sang, praised and longed for love throughout the ages!

After turning around these two spectacular and lingering landscapes, I arrived at the "Big Funnel". As the name suggests, the "Big Funnel" is surrounded by gray stone walls, with a green pine wave at the bottom, which is soft and gentle, like water, but also like jasper and emerald, which attracts people's imagination. But the two seem to be incompatible with each other, and they are inconsistent with each other. I stared at the funnel for a long time, and couldn't help but worry that this extremely beautiful scenery would "leak" out and gradually disappear before my eyes...

Suddenly I raised my head, and "Sleeping Beauty" appeared in front of me. Surrounded by the "treasure basin given by heaven", she was calm and serene, and highly contagious. The silence seemed to contain unknown and infinite power. I stopped to admire it and was full of imagination - that The mottled skin and the hard and strong body are actually just her body, while her real soul exists forever deep in the mountains and is elusive.

I prayed silently, wondering if she could hear me?

Are the echoes of screams and the rustling of leaves in the wind a call? A whisper?

Walking slowly away from these wonderful scenery, I still have something to say, because it is said that there are "three hundred and sixty" beautiful scenery, and what I saw is just a drop in the ocean.

After stroking the uneven and somewhat hand-cut rocks, I continued to move forward, following the light spots of the afternoon sun that were chopped up by the leaves. Through the sunglasses, everything turns into a dignified freehand ink painting; when you take off the sunglasses, the ink painting instantly turns into an oil painting with distinct colors and clear layers; close your eyes, and the outline of the object is carved into your mind, becoming an indelible print in your memory... …

Finally, we came to the "No. 1 Cave in the World". At the entrance of the cave, we saw the slightly dim colored lights flickering in the depths, emitting a cold light. I seemed to see a tunnel, as unfathomable as the eyes of a philosopher, so quiet that it was terrifying, as if it would be swallowed up as soon as I entered. I still chose to move forward, mustered up the courage, and explored the cave.

Step by step, step by step, I sweated a little. The stairs going up and down gradually numbed my tired brain, just when I thought my body didn't belong to me. Suddenly, a burst of joyful music popped into my mind. It was the song and dance music of the Bo and Miao people. I forgot about time, distance and fetters. I quickly cheered up and rushed forward excitedly to enjoy the performance, but... Nothing was found, only a solitary speaker that was the source of the music. I was disheartened. The fear caused by the dim light, the pressure from the stone wall above my head, the helplessness and disappointment of not having what I wanted, all combined like a sharp knife to cut my heart. "Tick", the spring water drips, and the heart bleeds. Looking back and looking around, the stalactites above my head are like budding flowers striving to grow; the stone frog resting on the stone seems to be preparing to jump into the water to "gallop" freely; the faces of the people on the edge of the wall seem to be smiling but not smiling, without the slightest bit of hostility; The originally shallow underground river suddenly became deeper due to the reflection on the cave roof, as if it contained unknown secrets. I gradually felt relieved, got on the boat, swayed on the water, and lay between the sky and the earth. Suddenly, I felt a hint of sweetness and pursed my lips. I was surprised by a feeling I had never experienced before. I didn’t To think about it, I just want to be in it and quietly...

After leaving the big stone cave, I thought I would have a feeling of palpitations for the rest of my life. Unexpectedly, I felt extremely calm inside. But when I heard that most of the stalactites here were lost due to vandalism, I had mixed feelings in my heart - cherishment, regret, indignation, regret...

Standing at the dividing point of leaving, I saw the afterglow of the evening shining on the Xingwen Stone Sea, the setting sun was its cloak, and the golden glow was the plated armor. I blinked my eyes so that the film in my heart would always remember this beautiful scenery, and I also wanted to leave a corner in my heart to hold this most beautiful memory!

(Will the armor peel and fade?)

July 27, 2015

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