We were all most fortunate to be able to witness the snow at Mutianyi Great Wall. We were very glad to get an early start and arrived there just in time to be intoxicated by the totally breathtaking view of snow, pine trees and especially that of the snow / ice caressing the branches of the peach, plums and other plants of the flora variety. The cold did not dampen our spirit at all (how can it coz the walk up warmed our bodies). The mist shrouded us and the surroundings made the entire climb rather romantic actually - even though it reduced our visibility at the Great Wall to zero. It's like we are the fairies "神仙" in the Chinese movies.

By the time we came down from the wall, the ice / snow were gradually beginning to melt. And, sure, some of us had many unrequestd "snow showers" on the way down. It was as if nature wanted us to remember what we saw and exprienced.  Depending on how one looks at it, those snow showers were either a wonderfully surprising "show of blessings" or as we heard on the way down, some of the other fellow climbers from other groups exclaimed "no luck!!!" I could only smile, for my heart was saying "Not at all, lady..."  : - )
 
Well, I guess if you miss it this time, there's next March 2009. I think I truly understood the meaning of "life is a mixture of sunshine and rain" or loosely transalated into Chinese "生活总是风风雨雨". And from this morning's weather, it's as if the "rain" or "风风雨雨" is gone and did not exist yesterday. That's nature, and that's life. I totally disagree with the statement Forest Gump’s mother made at the beginning of the movie: "life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you will get...."

No, life is not like any chocolate for that matter. It is actually more like the weather because chocolate will always be chocolate no matter what shape and size it comes in.  Now weather is totally different - one do not know when, where, why and how it comes - it can be gorgeous and beautiful, sweet, painful, exciting, drabby, scary, memoraable and every emotions we can evoke our senses. ...dont you agree, my friends?
 
Still, hope that many of you will join us on our trip to the Beijing Botanic Garden in mid April.

Have a nice, sunny week ahead!