Xiamen

Xiamen or Xiamen Island is a relatively small city with nearly 4 million people. There are buses and cars, taxies and even ferries and even a handful of bridges that allow people coming in and out of the city to the neighboring ones. It even has an airport! It's considered one of the most romantic leisure city and ranked 2nd place for most suitable living in China. 

And its here in this city that the most famous temple resides. Nanputuo Temple.

People from around the world come to walk around its beautiful lotus gardens and water ponds. The temple is free to go in but and there are monks walking around so people must be respectful when paying their respects to the many gods and goddesses that are worshiped here. I had to fortunate accident to meet a few monks and I was surprised that they spoke English...and well too! I had accidentally wondered into their living quarters (outdoor patio) section of the temple by a simple door that was not guarded by a temple worker (mostly all old ladies). The monks were very kind and one led me back to the main part of the temple available to the people.  Admire the beauty inside Nanputuo Temple.

It was so peaceful here.

I have mentioned in a previous post that cats are believed to have supernatural powers that they can go between this world and the next and are excellent at keeping spirits away from the holy grounds of the temple.
You will see many temples with a pet cat or two.

This beautiful many armed Goddess reminds me of Kali, the Goddess of Destruction and Dissolution in Hinduism

The roofs of this temple are intricately designed and tell a story. Each building has a different story.
This one is similar to the "Noah's Ark" story in the bible. Not that I read it of course, but I do know the basics.

Behind this building is a mountain you can take to Wulao Peak but it was too hot for me
and I was already sweating up buckets  to even want to do hike up a million and one stairs in 98 degree humid weather.

Now let me just say that this temple is one of the biggest I have ever been to. Originally during the Tang Dynasty (between 618 to 907) monks who had lived on this land called it a Buddhist holy ground where it changed many names but remained sacred until the rebuilt in 1684.  

Named after Mount Putuo, an Island off the south coast of Shanghai AND a place I wish I could go travel one day because it is considered a holy island and because the pictures are beautiful.

So enough history on this place. 

There's a red heron eating a fish.

If you were with me on Facebook, you would have found out that I took around 7 or 8 buses in one day. Mostly did this in order to stay cool inside the highly air condition buses that run every 15 minutes. However, it was a great way to run around the city instead of going by tour bus (I didn't see any). I would get off at points that would interest me and take the same bus back to a location I knew. This place reminded me of Hong Kong. It was hot and humid and the lower class people have tight and narrow apartment buildings. 

HOLY CRAP!!! I TOTALLY FORGOT TO MENTION I WENT TO HONG KONG TOO! 

I will have to edit my previous post about Three Cities in One Month to Four** Cities in One Month.

Overall, I had a great time in Xiamen and while I did not go to the beach here, I did go to the beach on a smaller, more relaxing island.

Gulangyu.

Until next time! 

Zai Jian!