And Then It Snowed ... Chapter 3

We woke on Sunday to a scene lifted from a child’s fairy tale book. A scene that would entice not only our desire to explore, but to play, to laugh and to live fully in the moment. Our world was covered in thick virgin snow. The courtyard as we knew it the day before, had been transformed into a white wonderland. 

Staring out from the warmth of the room, we were in awe of the vista which lay beyond the expansive windows. The child-like spirit within each one of us bubbling up and rising. Preparing to break free. To play. The entrance to our room was obstructed. With the snow piled up against our door, nature had swathed our space in a blanket of white, forming a cocoon. One of safety and intimacy. The intensely deep silence that only snow can bring, engulfed us. 

Our excitement built up until eventually, staying indoors was no longer an option. We carefully placed sensibility on the shelf to await our return. Venturing out into what can only be described as thrilling, is what life is about. Feeling the flakes falling gently on my skin. The crunch of fresh snow beneath my boots. Shrieking whilst gingerly navigating the freshly cleared pathway. Laughing out loud for no reason. Sheer exhilaration presenting the opportunity to step into the role of being a child once more.

The village lay sleepily under the snow. We randomly trudged across  areas familiar to us. Pathways were no longer visible. For a split second or two, the sun would appear before once again giving way to the dark clouds. More and more snow fell. Archaic blue Chinese trucks wedged between mounds of snow, provided a splattering of colour to the surrounding whiteness. As did the red lanterns hanging from entrances to quaint homes.

Intricate designs on rooftops and doors peeked out from beneath their new pristine cloak. History reminding us of her incredibly detailed and striking presence. Smoke meekly made an appearance from chimneys. We stepped back into this bygone era, witnessing the strength and pride with which wooden beams stood up to the elements. If only they could share their stories. 

By Sunday evening, almost six feet of snow had fallen. In the next 18 hours the heaviest snow in 55 years would fall and engulf our world. Tragically, three Japanese hikers died on The Wall that day. The tragedy occurred near the tower which we could clearly see from the guesthouse. Our sense of excitement was tinged with silent unease. And sadness. We were going nowhere. Mr. Chen established that all roads were closed. There was absolutely no way of leaving the village. Text messages were sent to relevant bosses and to family. 

At times such as we were experiencing, all one can do is to control the ‘controllable’. We relaxed. We kept warm. I was happy and could not have wished for better people with whom to share this adventure. Family and good friends mean the world to me. Finding people who have the same belief systems, the same outlook on life and the same values are treasures to behold. Positive attitudes and appreciating nature, provided us the tools with which to value every second of the journey. Needless to say, the red wine, the chocolates and the steaming hot local food did wonders too.

To be continued …