It was a wish came true albeit many years later,
The Jiuzhaigou ( 九寨沟 Valley of Nine Tribes) scenic park is a world renowned wonders of nature and top tourist destination. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
My wife and I were planning to visit this place for the past 3-5 years but alas, due to various reasons, it failed to materialize.
With thanks and praises to God the Father, and the intercession of Mary, our Mother, we made the trip successfully from 14-10 to 21-10-2013.
We joined a group tour from Pearl Holidays (M) Travel and Tour Sdn Bhd in Kajang which was led by local tour leader Javin Lim, a hardworking and dedicated young man.
It was a tough journey in which individual physical fitness and the weather are important factors.
I always emphasized that HEALTH is the most important factor in traveling (Makan angin) , NOT money, and this is the classic example journey.
Hold on to your health, not your money.
For good weather and safety of our group, " O Mary，conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee" ( Our Lady of Miraculous Medal prayer ) is the most often uttered prayer I said throughout the journey.
We arrived at Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan, at about 10:30 pm, and left for Jiuzhaigou by air the next day afternoon.
The boarding of flight to Jiuzhaigou was delayed almost half an hour without reason given.
Then we boarded and was "stuck" in the plane for another half an hour for reason " due to flight control's control .."
I was really worry.
Could it be the bad weather in Jiuzhaigou Airport? Would the flight be cancelled? At 3500 M above sea level, delay and cancellation is not an uncommon occurrence.
"O Mary, Conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee ... pray for us a safe flight to Jiuzhaigou...."
Suddenly, the plane moved ... without any announcement. Hurray, the flight is on!
We landed at Jiuzhaigou airport without incident at about 4:30 pm.
Despite weather forecast of cloudy and showers, we were met with good weather at all scenic points (cool, no rain with occasionally sunny) throughout the journey.
Thanks and praises to God through the intercession of Mary. Alleluia !
On Wednesday morning, Oct 16, my wife and I, with my mother-in-law (80), sisters in law Ann, Susan and husband Tony, Kajang friend Wing and Ilona, we set foot on the famous world heritage site，our main target - Jiuzhaigou Scenic Park !
The entrance to the park was a sea of people, with majority of them being local tourists.
Our group paid a little extra (which was included in the tour fee) to charter a private bus for our transportation within the park. This would cut down extra time in waiting for the public buses from point to point, and saved us from being overwhelmed by the rude, abrasive local Chinese tourists.
It was sheer spectacular to see many beautiful lakes, waterfalls, mountains, plants and trees, all in autumn colors.
Due to swamping of crowd, we do not have much time to admire and appreciate the wonders of nature. Nonetheless, it was a great place of people, sounds and colours that you would never forget the rest of your life.
(See pictures in Facebook)
(See video in Youtube)
这是夙愿得偿。
中国四川的九寨沟，是国际著名景区，被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产地方。
我和太太在过去的数年里，都想着要到此一游，但因着各种的原因，都不能实现。
心怀都仁慈天主的感恩及赞美，也因着圣母玛利亚的转祷，我们终于在14-10至21-10-2013，成功率达成心愿。
我们参加了由加影珍珠假期所组办的一支旅行团，在年轻及尽职的领队Javin Lim 带领下，完成了8天7夜的行程。
这是一次有些艰辛的旅程，个人体能及天气是此趟的重要关键。
我常常强调，出外吃风（旅游）最重要的基本条件是健康，不是金钱。这旅程就是经典例子。
抓紧健康，而不是你的金钱。有了健康，才能够出门游玩。没有健康，就算是有钱，也只有呆在家里的成分。
而金钱有或无，是见仁见智，关键是“舍得“或”舍不得”而已。这个可以自己决定。多一点钱，可以走多一点的路，少一点钱，则走少一点的路，但都还可以“走”。
健康则是“有”与“无”之间，答案只有一个。
朋友都说我到处游玩，羡慕不已。这得感谢主赐给我的健康，所以我才能够去游玩。没有健康，纵然腰缠万贯，九寨沟就是一个你不能去的景点。
但也有腰缠万贯的人，因为不舍得去“吃风”，就节省好多钱了。
自从我动了膝盖关节手术后（换膝盖），我重新的体验到健康的珍贵。我的脚获得重生，难道我还要呆在家里，浪费天主所赐的吗？
我要赞美及光荣天主。
在这个旅途上，为我们团队旅行的安全平安，为好天气，为我的80高龄岳母能够完成行程，我念的最多的祷告经文就是：“吁玛利亚，无染原罪始态者，我们向妳求助，请为我们转求”。（这是无染原罪圣母显灵圣牌的短诵），
我们在14/10 晚上十点半左右抵达四川首都成都，在酒店住宿一夜后，就在隔天下午，乘搭飞机飞往九寨沟。
飞往九寨沟的航班延迟了半个小时后才开始登机。大家在机舱又等了半个小时，飞机还没起飞，有几位当地乘客有点鼓噪。而空务员所给的答案是：“飞行管制中心正在管制中。。” 。。。这不是答案多答案。
“吁玛利亚，无原罪始态者，我们向妳求助，请为我们转求。。。求赐给我们的航班顺利起飞，安全抵达九寨沟”。
我心里有点担忧。
是不是九寨沟的恶劣气候？航班会不会延迟或取消？处海拔3500公尺，班机延误或取消，不是罕见。
突然间，我觉得飞机在移动 。。。没有报告，飞机就要起飞了，好嘢！
我们的班机，在下午四点半左右，平安顺利的降落在九寨沟机场。
尽管天气预测都说阴天，多云及阵雨，但这几天我们所到的景点，天气都良好 - 阴爽，没雨，偶尔太阳冲破云层，照耀着我们。阿肋路亚！
星期三， 16-10-2013 早上，我和太太，岳母，小姨安娜，苏珊及丈夫东尼，还有来自加影的两位朋友，终于踏足时间著名的景点，我们此行的重地 - 九寨沟！
景点的入口，人山人海，大部分都是国内的旅客。
我们的团费，附加了景区内的团体专用包车，这是一个明智之举。我们除了省了许多景点到景点间候车的时间，也保护我们，及避开受到当地粗鲁及不受规矩的本地（国内）游客的冲撞。（一些旅行团不包括此费在内，团员需排队候车。。在中国，排队及插队可以成为选择性的同义词）
景区内的风景，可说是叹为观止。
披上秋装的湖泊，瀑布，植物及山岭，五颜六色，美的像图画。
因为汹涌的人潮，我们没有时间轻松及细心的观赏这些大自然美景，也只好尽量的拍照留念。
无论如何，这块人，色彩及视觉混合成的景区，必定会令每个人终生不忘。
(更多照片Facebook)
( 录影 Youtube )
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