After gallivanting around the Russian Doll Square, Jane and I, along with the two Mongolian girls and the taxi driver, headed towards Dalia Lake. The drive was about 30 minutes long, but we stopped for lunch in a 'small village' where Jane had lived and worked as a teacher for a year. Whenever Jane talked to me about her teaching experiences there, she called it a 'village'. Therefore, you can imagine my surprise when we entered a city with 6,7,8 story buildings, people galore, and stores on every corner.
While the horse and cart may be a convincing argument for 'villiage' status, I eventually found out that the population in Zha Qu is much greater than any town, village, or even suburb I am familiar with.
During the last stretch of the drive we passed two small lakes (ponds really) and Jane exclaimed "We're here at Daili lake!" I couldn't believe that these puddles where what she had been raving about. I was starting to lecture myself on believing recommendations and kicking myself for not asking more details about our destinations.
When we crested the hill, however, I saw the real lake, large enough that the opposite shore wasn't visible even from our elevated position. Jane sure knows what she's talking about. It was beautiful. I only wish that it had been a month later so that swimming would have been a possibility.
The lake was much clearer than Michigan's water with which I'm familiar, and the smell of fish was faint enough that it was inviting, not disturbing.
Surprisingly there was still ice in the water, but that didn't stop me from feeling it with my foot!
Ooo! A clam, what a find!
Another....
...and another....
....and another.
Nope, I guess they're as common
as sand on this beach!
Speaking of sand....
Does this look normal to you?
An Inlet off the lake
Coming home with treasures.
