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China Highlights' rafting tour
China Highlights staff enjoyed a thrilling and inspiring rafting tour through the 12 Shoals Rapid last weekend.
We started our tour late last Friday from our office and was dropped at a valley where the minor landslide half blocked the highway and our big bus could not pass. Further transfer to the scenic area was offered by the rafting company but our enthusiastic team gave up that convenience and preferred walking along the mountain valley to enjoy the fresh air and lush vista of luxuriant bamboo-clad mountain. The city during this time of the year was baked by the fierce sun in unforgiving heat while the valley at the mountainous area was cooled by a welcomed breeze and the air was filled with aroma of earth.
We arrived at our hotel at 6:00, exhilarated, after around 30 hour's rambling. We had to stay here for one night and took the rafting tour the next morning. The hotel has a superb location at a valley surrounded by well-wooden mountains, besides a gently moving stream.
The rafting was a lifetime experience, an alternating exhilaration of excitement, intensity and relaxation. The whole company was divided into several teams with around 7 persons and two steersmen one team on a rafting boat
The fun began immediately as our ship plunge into the chilling, powerful white walls of water through the ship lock with a descent of about 4 meters. The yells from the crew team were ear-piercing and laughter abounded.
Our uncertainty about the day's adventure was broken by the steersmen's sophisticated skills of being able to steering the tottering ship through the swirling and twirling waters with ease at the monument when we descended through the ship lock.
As fast as the rapids came upon us, the wall of towering water was gone and replaced with a tranquil, lovely stream. Now the air was filled with friendly enthusiastic conversations and songs sang by birds in the valley and the symphony played by the motion of water.
Lovely conversations stopped as a distant rumble increased in intensity and everyone realized that the monument has approached and hearts began to race. Nervous and uncertain, everyone cautiously listened to the steersmen. Quicker than we knew, we boat entered a narrow gully, where the roiling water billowed against the rocks along like a turbulent tyrant, setting off foams meters high. Churning water rumbled, the current increased and the rafters were struck by monstrous walls of foaming white water that roared in our faces like a beast about to devour their very existence. Our boat like a drunkard staggered through the intimidating walls of water. The human diversity was now challenged by the strength and power of nature. Rapids after rapids, screams were endless. All of a sudden, the unforgiving walls of water was gone and replaced with serenity. We sighed relieves and felt exhilarated about our achievement of successfully sailing through those dangerous shoals. More miles had been traveled and the roars fade behind us.
Fears of the boisterous white water had filled our consciousness and not until now did we feel cold and trembled and huddled for warmth. The sun seemed quite considerate to meet our need and came through the thick clouds, which was more than welcomed by everyone, melting away waters that kissed us from all directions.
Minds were at peace after having been encouraged through around one hour's struggle with the majestic walls of water and our spirits were nourished by the beautiful and ambient settings along the river.
We ended our rafting at approximate 11 o' clock in the morning.
Although we were originally seeking the physical excitement and relaxation, what we experienced was the challenge of nature and strength of cooperation, only though which could we overcame all the obstacles along the rafting.
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