Paul Stepanek is the founder of BODHI®ADVENTURES. BOHDI is a local adventure outfitter which specializes in outdoor adventures both in the Shanghai suburbs and in scenic spots across China. They offer day-long, overnight and extended biking and hiking trips, scavenger hunts and teambuilding events. BOHDI works with community associations and groups like schools, clubs, alumni associations and companies. They are fun and very foreigner friendly and make it easy to get out of the city and into something that resembles fresh air.

 

Half expecting to be overrun by the massive crush of locals who have discovered the freedom of owning an automobile and the thirst for something out of the city – we were pleased to side-step crowds, blaring karaoke machines (and the people howling into them like injured canines) and strings of out-of-season holiday decorations. Oh – the Christmas lights, maybe next time we’ll bring our own…

 

Having checked into our abode and shed the city garb – we headed out to explore the myriad of trails surrounding the main mountain. For some perspective and to build a bit of appetite, we made our way up and down and up and down and around and up up up to a nunnery. Perhaps not the only one – but certainly one of the few – which fills their hours between prayers with keeping the locals topped up on their very own homemade yang mei jiu (fruit based moonshine). Could it be that the nuns were not getting a big enough following through prayer and so decided to pursue other methods? I can see how it would be moving – especially after a few cups of their sauce. Very pragmatic I must say. If the ascetic way of life does not work – why not try on the hedonistic path for size. There is certainly more than one way to actively pursue enlightenment.