Hua Shan - 27, originally uploaded by Studiojmm.
It's a tradition at Hua Shan for lovers to inscribe their names on locks, secure them to the chain guardrails, and toss the key into the abyss to bind their hearts together for as long as the lock remains.
Hua Shan (flowery mountain) is the easternmost of the five holy Taoist* mountains in China located in the Shaanxi Province near Xi'an. It is named for the arrangement of it's five peaks, the highest of which is also the highest of the sacred mountains at 2,160 meters (7,086 feet). The climb is long, hot, and fantastic.
So this is me, trying not to be a curmudgeon about Valentine's Day even though I've got issues with the commercialism ** of it all. You can read our friend Jenn's great reflection on the holiday here.
I sent out a number of cards with this image that should arrive today, tomorrow, or maybe the day after depending on how the weather affects postal delivery. If you don't get one, for heaven's sake, send me your address.
*There are also four Buddhist mountains. Emei Shan in Sichuan is the one that we climbed. If you haven't viewed our miles of China photos, you can do so on Flickr.
**If you haven't run out and bought a bouquet of cut flowers for your beloved, don't –– at least not until you read this article on why you should buy organic flowers.
Comments