Monzhouli Post Four: Dalia Lake
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.
Ooo! A clam, what a find!
...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?
Coming home with treasures.
2 comments:
What is with the sand? Why so many odd shapes and swirls? Is it in the inlet? I love the shell pics, which are so natural and undisturbed. Was it quiet there?
It was very windy there, so I'm guessing the sand patterns (which were on the main beach and not the inlet) were shaped by the constant wind as the sand dried in the sun and hardened.
And yes, it was eerily quiet. There were only a few other people on the beach aside from us.
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