Vignettes of the World
Launceston presented a first impression quite unlike what I imagined. I thought we were still at the suburbs when the airport bus dropped us off at the Batman Fawkner. I then realized that large swathes of residential areas surrounded the City of Launceston, seamlessly blended …
The convicts could have never imagined Tasmania today. But then again, even with the wonderfully preserved historic sites, we can hardly imagine Tasmania back then. On our arrival in Launceston we checked into the Batman Fawkner Inn. I had not known that the Batman Fawkner …
Perhaps many travelers would agree with me on this. When one explores a new destination, there is that inkling in the heart, a soft voice inside wondering: could I live here? The older that I get, the more it is that I look at the long-term possibility in the places that I visit. Traveling is no longer about living the moment for pleasure.
A few months ago, I visited Altona, a suburb in Melbourne, for the first time. The plan was to have an easy afternoon walking on the beach and the lake shore. What interested me about Altona was the existence of both an ocean and a lake, and with that came the forming of a wetland. As we drove away from the City, we left behind a hectic lifestyle. Along our way we saw the gloomy winter sky of Melbourne gradually opened up to a clear blue expanse.
The calmness of Altona enveloped my mind as soon as I stepped out of the car. We had lunch at Tina’s Dumpling House in town. The food and the hospitality certainly exceeded our expectations. The town gave a very good vibe. It was clean, relaxing and welcoming.
We then drove to the beach for a stroll. There was a long pier extending to the waters. Although there were just a few souls there, I could imagine this pier to be perfect for fishing during warmer days. The beach was tree-lined. We walked leisurely on the grass-covered esplanade, in our ears were the very pleasing rhythms of the ocean waves.
My Aunt told me that there were some interesting memorials to see in town. She took me to the Council Chamber, where a war tank brought forth the memories of war. An eternal flame commemorated the Anzac Day, “lest we forget.” We then visited the R.S.L. (returned and services league). It is now functioning as a gaming center and bar for grown-ups. However, commemorated on its walls were the servicemen in the wars in which Australia participated, including the two World Wars, the Vietnam War and the Korean War. A salute to the veterans, as they were “serving still.”
Finally, we drove a very short distance to reach the shore of the Cherry Lake. It is a fresh water lake with a wetland. As such, half was open to recreational use, and the other half reserved for wildlife. The lush life forms there were so in tune with humans that they came forward to greet us.
I had a wonderful time in Altona, a place in Melbourne into which few tourists would venture. Besides an inheritance of a beautiful environment, there was also a sense of history there, and that made the town all the more appealing to me. Having seen Altona, I started wondering if maybe I could end up here for a quiet and content retirement.
The epicureans of the world know that there are eight great styles in Chinese cuisine. These great styles are categorized according to the geographical regions in China. Each of these eight styles differs in its cooking methods, selection of ingredients, the use of spices, and …
“Are there cameras here? Quickly!” I was sitting in the backseat, watching the cab driver communicate with another driver on the phone. He was desperately trying to find his way to the airport bus stop. I felt bad, because my destination was actually the airport …
The afternoon heat was waning. I debated whether to see just one more site in the Zhongshan National Park before heading back to the hotel. I felt like I have seen what I wanted to see in terms of history. Yet I told myself to get my money’s worth. I then decided to head over to the Linggu (Spirit Valley) area.
In terms of historical significance, the Linggu Pagoda was a 20th century structure. It housed the memorial for the National Revolutionary Army that died in the Northern Expedition of 1926-1927. The Wu Liang Dian (Beamless Hall) itself was an architectural wonder. Made with just bricks, with no nails and no wooden beam, throughout its structure, it once belonged to a group of ancient Buddhist temples in the area. It now serves as a memorial to the Nationalist Army officers. The Buddhist Temple (Linggu Si) is still a functional temple with resident monks today.
I will keep this entry short as I was very tired when I toured this area. Perhaps the pictures will better convey the beautiful environment in the Spirit Valley area. It does have a long history of its own, spanning from the Buddhist Temple’s historic presence since the 6th century to the Nationalist Republican period.
Finally, I will note that there is a restaurant serving vegetarian cuisine outside the Linggu Temple. When I saw that, I regretted having eaten some standard street food just prior to coming here. The vegetarian noodles looked really good.
As I headed back to the hotel on the local bus, I finally noticed that the thoroughfares of Nanjing were lined with rows and rows of beautiful Chinese parasols.
Works Cited:
Eric N Danielson, Nanjing and the Lower Yangzi, The Definitive Travel Guide at 137-139.
Once described as the First Villa of the Far East, the Former Residence of the Chairman of the Republican Government provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Meiling. Nanjing called it fondly as the Soong Meiling Villa, as …
The Ming Filial Tomb (Ming Xiaoling) had historical significance on China’s imperial burial rites. The architecture and formalities of the Ming emperor mausoleums preserved some features of their predecessors. Yet in breaking many new grounds, the Ming Filial Tomb established itself as a milestone development …
Despite having done some research, I made some critical mistakes on this trip. Although I did learn that the museums of China (all over the nation) close on Mondays, I did not know that it includes the Dr. Sun Yatsen Mausoleum. Furthermore, the staff told me that even if I had gone on other days, I must first register online before securing entrance to the Mausoleum. Needless to say, I had not done prior registration.
I just paid ￥100 as the entrance fee within the Zhongshan Mountain National Park (also known as Purple Gold Mountain, Zijin Shan), where Dr. Sun Yatsen’s Mausoleum is located. I asked the staff, what then did I pay for? He said the ￥100 covered four paid areas within the Zhongshan Mountain, including the Soong Meiling Villa, the Ming Filial (Xiaoling) Tomb, the Music Stage and the Linggu Temple.
There was furthermore ￥50 extra for unlimited tourist cart rides to key destinations within the Zhongshan Mountain area. Having spent a full nine hours in the national park that day, I would say both the entrance fee and the unlimited rides were essential for this trip.
It was 8:30 in the morning. I figured that I should still enjoy the day in Zhongshan Mountain to the best I could. So I hurried on and took my first ride to Dr. Sun Yatsen’s Mausoleum. Yes, it was closed, but I must pay my respect however I could.
On March 12, 1925, Dr. Sun Yatsen lost his fight against liver cancer and bid farewell to the world. He died in Beijing. Yet even as early as 1912, he has expressed his wish to lay in final rest in Nanjing, then the capital of the Republic of China. The Zhongshan Mountain was selected because he expressed this wish when he was on a hunting trip here. “Let Nanjing be remembered as the home of the Provisional Government,” he said to his followers.
Tourists would first walk through the center gate, which features the words “universal love” inscribed on its top beam. From the center gate, there was a long path, gradually inclined, leading up to the steps of the Mausoleum. I have heard that the hike up the Mausoleum was rigorous. It was the trail of history.
The morning was bright. Because the Mausoleum was closed on Monday, there was not yet a crowd. As a result, I was able to take some photos at the steps of the Mausoleum Gate (Ling Men) without fighting for a spare spot. After advancing on the steps, I reached the closed gate that kept all tourists away.
Looking up to the four words on top of the center arch, meaning “the world belongs to the public,” I bowed. The writing was recognizable as Dr. Sun Yatsen’s own. The phrase was his signature. I have finally come to pay respect to the great leader that made modern China. Next time I would do better planning.
On the days the Mausoleum opens, the tourists would then proceed to the Tablet Pavilion, then the Ceremonial Hall, the marble statue of Sun Yatsen, and finally the Tomb Chamber, which remains closed to visitors.
The funeral committee of Dr. Sun Yatsen has settled on the site of the Mausoleum with the selection of the location made by Dr. Sun Yatsen’s wife, Soong Qing-ling. They then sought architectural designs by calling for a competition. A young architect Lu Yanzhi won the competition. He has designed the layout of the Mausleum grounds in bell shape. It symbolizes Sun Yatsen’s name (Zhongshan) with the word “zhong” also meaning bell in Chinese. Furthermore, the Three-People Principle that Dr. Sun Yatsen advocated was the sound of an alarm bell in times of change and turmoil in Chinese history. The funeral committee then procured the construction materials from abroad. They imported stones, granite, concrete, marble etc. – all of the highest quality.
Dr. Sun Yatsen’s Mausoleum took six years and 2.2 million yuan to finish. As the Mausoleum completed, although some structures (including Dr. Sun Yatsen’s marble statue) and construction remained to be done, the nation laid Dr. Sun Yatsen to rest. On 1st June, 1929, the nation held the grand funeral for Dr. Sun Yatsen. It was an official state ceremony with attendance by heads of the foreign powers. Thousands of Nanjing residents lined this same pathway that I walked to bid farewell.
In the turbulent years after its completion, the Mausoleum has suffered damages from the Sino-Japanese War and the Cultural Revolution. Yet the respect of the Chinese people have for Dr. Sun Yatsen has never died. He is a figure that is held to heart both by the Nationalist Government and the Communist Party of China.
When I exited the center gate, I noticed a small observation area tucked away on the side of the main road. There I paid a small sum of money to see the inside of the Tomb Chamber. I noted then the emblem of the Nationalist Party of China inside the structures that I did not get to visit that day. It would be the only place in all of mainland China that any mention of the Nationalist Party could legitimately stand and show.
Works Cited:
There were two reasons why I visited Zhan Yuan (Zhan Garden). First and foremost, it was only in Zhan Yuan that one could find an exhibition devoted exclusively to the history of Taiping Rebellion in China. Secondly, Zhan Yuan itself is a site of significance. …