JuiZhaiGou

Just returned from a trip to JiuZhaiGou, China. It is part of the Aba Tibetan prefecture. It was snowing and the scenery was splendid, often more breath taking than those in Switzerland and New Zealand. Though some lakes were like skating rinks, others were blue and turquoise reflecting like perfect mirrors the pine forests with their snow icing. Waterfalls are aplenty and one gets to follow their downward flow, sometimes as brooks and at times as gushing torrents over rocks.

The melting snow posed some challenge, especially for the middle aged folks like us. At certain scenic spots, the steps were strewn with sack cloth to make them less slippery. Our guide was a young lady of Tibetan origin who is about to get married this year. She complimented the 5 husbands in the group for taking great care of their wives. She lamented that it is hard to find elderly couples holding hands in China and that Chinese husbands don't care two hoots about their wives' safety. I told her back home we don't hold hands too. Only in JuiZhai we clinged on to each other out of necessity. Indeed this trip proved to be the longest duration I held my husband's hands since our honeymoon some decades ago. It feels good.