I like Big Buddhas and I cannot lie

After the 1,000 Buddha cliffs, we turned our attention to the main attaction of Leshan, DaFo, which literally means Big Buddha. Because the Buddha is so big, there are many different ways to see him. We decided to take them all! It's said that Dafo was built because the three rivers that convulge around Leshan were very dangerous. A monk set out to build the giant Buddha so his presence would calm the river and protect travelers. No doubt, it worked (while we were there at least). The rivers were very stagnant. For our first view of DaFo, we walked along the Leshan boardwalk until, in the foggy distance, a giant head peaked out from behind a cliff. It was our first glimpse of how big this thing really is. We then headed to a tiny island that stands directly across the river from the big guy in an ancient ferry powered by an equally old engine and engineer pictured to the right. We sat so low in the water it was up to our shoulders! The rocks that make up the island are a plethora of colors, all chipped away from the rock when they carved DaFo many years ago. We saw purple, red, green, blue, and every other color you could imagine. Pretty, pretty, pretty big. The only way Dafo could be any more amazing was if he talked. If any country could make this happen, it's China (or Disney World). After viewing Dafo from afar, we had to get closer. We bused it over to the other side of the river and entered the park. There are some pretty cool sites before and after the Largest Buddah in the world. Take for example, the picture below. Darbie's riding the auspicious white marble tiger that lives in the cave behind.

First we started at the head and walked down the sheer cliff side on a tiny staircase carved into the side all the way to his equally giant feet. All right, because there's not much else to say besides, "You wouldn't believe how big this thing is until you see it with your own eyes," we'll let the pictures do the work here.

That really white spot is Kendall at the base of the Big Buddha. Just in case you haven't got it yet, we've got yet another helpful video (told you we had lots!).

After Dafo, came what has to be Jimbo's favorite moment of the trip. We were getting pretty hungry by that point and decided to stop at one of the many Chinese mom and pop restaurants a.k.a the local fishing village. After sitting down in a truly lovely riverside patio, we decided to order some sweet-and-sour fish. The cook relayed the information to his wife, who then brought out a very fresh fish, wriggling by a string attached to its dorsel fin, for our approval. After an astonished Jimbo said yes to the fish, she turned around whacked the fish on the ground next to us, and made her way to the kitchen. A short time later, the fish returned, as our lunch. We've got proof!

The proud cook and future consumers with the fish a-dangling. You can see the pure joy on Jimbo's face, and this is before the fish had the life whacked out of it.

Before and after aptly demonstrated. For those true animal advocates out there let us calm you by telling you, it was delicious.

After lunch we pedicabbed it over to another site to see the largest reclining Buddha in the world, which is carved into a mountain, a la Stone Mountain (without the Southern Pride laser show, unfortunately) for all our Georgian readers out there. Not quite as impressive as that landmark, but the rest of the park is kind of a Buddhist themepark with some pretty cool stuff. However, we were getting a little tired of seeing Buddhas by then, so you might be too. Instead, here is what might be the greatest video of our trip taken during the bumpy pedicab ride.

Here are a few more pics of various parts of Leshan. Below is Darbie next to a really cool bridge close to Dafo.

Ok, we couldn't resist, here's the giant reclining Buddha, or Kendall's preference "Stone Mountain Buddha." By the way, that's just the head and upper torso, it would be impossible to get the entire thing in one shot unless your in a helicopter.Darbie decided to walk into an ancient tomb that has graves inside. This is what happened when Kendall shut the gate behind her, pure fear (she's about to wet her pants)!

Wow, that is a lot of blogging for one little city. Leshan has some of the coolest sites and nicest people in China. We all agreed we would go back there again any time. While we were walking the boardwalk, Kendall happened to find some nice, rare Chinese graffitti that said it best:

PEACE!

Miles Traveled: Xi'an to Leshan - 609 miles

Total: 1584 miles

DB & KM