1. Suzhou Odyssey<br />Three Hill Island is an ancient spot. <br /> Inhabited, it stood in the heart of the lake, <br />From far-away looked the island like a dried, <br />but green leaf on the surface of the lake.<br />With the skies above blue and white, <br /> and the earth below serene, calm and undisturbed.<br /> I shall not see on earth a place more dear<br /> the lake was clear as glass, through which the gentle greens grass was visible. Soon it was time for us to set on trails of adventures. To reach the island that was in the far end of the lake, a speedboat is what was required for reaching there. The mini tides in the lake looked wavering sheets of plastic.<br />As I was admiring the nature around, I closed my eyes; I felt a fresh breeze rubbing my face as if it was right from heaven. What shall I say now? What would you expect on a hot sunny day like that? no one could have ever resisted. The trees, which surrounded the lake, looked like armours from far away, making the lake look like an entirely different place on earth. They swung a bit, from here to there with their tender leaves of pine tree, making a swosh…wooossshh.. Whoosh.. Sound as if it was whispering.<br />It seemed short before we sat on the boat, and were still admiring the whole scene and the scenery when I heard the engine off. We had reached the island, in the middle of the lake. Each one of us got-off the boat with a smile on their face as though we had the most incomparable ride on earth ever. The syrupiness of the birds chirping on the island was like they were calling us for telling a new story and unfolds another secret from the past.<br />What I thought seemed the most peculiar thing was that there was no sign of a human being anywhere, there was a farm with animals and a farmhouse. As I walked along the path, I saw a blue creature like thing and to my revelation it spread it’s magnificent wings gracefully. With numerous colors like a Chinese fan of different designs. It was a peacock, proud and had his head high up in pride.<br />The island had three hills, which was obvious from the island’s name. I was astounded by the way the greenery of the island made it look so lively. Can there be any place as calm as this? Where they would be no tension and peacefulness was all around. Then we saw blocks of wood in circular shapes that were attached by two ropes from side-to-side, and the rope was tied on the two poles. Which would be good for a bit of sweating, for a young boy’s training. It was at that time, and at that moment that we had a race “ who can do all the tasks, and run back to the finish point first”. A challenge like this under the scorching sun was not a trouble-free task that anyone could have achieved.<br />Nothing in particular had detained from doing this task, but my will power was what gave me support for the challenge. And I went ahead and did the challenge with my whole potency, the best I could do. I raced like a bullet. But sadly I did not achieve the victory, but was satisfied that I gave my full-heart in it. A drop of sweat trickled on the side of my face, which made me happy somewhere in my heart, that today I had done a tough job. There would be no trouble for sleep tonight. Drinking water felt as if watering the Gobi desert. I was so fatigued like I’d just climbed the Mount Everest. But we all had to keep walking. My best pal and I were just talking about the island while walking, when flabbergasted for a minute we just stood there. A huge bell was what we saw. The bell was huge like a black cloth over a thick bush.<br />It was as strong as a rock. With the ancient Chinese designs on it, It looked grander. My friend and me climbed the steps to the bell, where we got the opportunity to ring the bell. There was a log of wood hanging from the ceiling, me and my friend set our hands on that, took it farther back and “BANG!” we left it. The sound of the bell echoed on the whole island, across the lake in the far lands of Suzhou. In the olden days when the festival of mooncake was celebrated, the farmers use to work the whole day and before the sun was to set, one of the farmer would ring the bell, which was a sign for all his fellow friends and farmers on the island to gather near the bell. Where they would have their own celebrations.<br />On the top of the hill, there I sat enjoying the cool, refreshing breeze as if I Had never experienced it anytime before. I took the advantage of everything I could on that island. But shortly, I started to feel thirsty. I was so thirsty I could have drunk the whole lake. Hence, I walked down the hill to get a bottle of water. I went down, grabbed my bottle and started to drink the water, not caring if all of the water is going inside my mouth or not, the water gushing through my throat. How I felt after that was unspeakable, because it felt so good. <br />But when I turned to go back up, to my surprise I did not have the slightest idea where is my group. I kept on walking, with what I could remember. As I walked I saw my friends bags, and was happy to my heart’s delight that they all were still on the island. I was still wondering and was worried when I heard someone shouting-out “over here!” It was my friend who had called me. She came running towards me, still panting “ come on, we are going to be late”, “Oh” said I. I hadn’t even noticed that it was long since I’d walked down the hill. I swiftly grabbed my bag, and we both rushed towards the boat, where everyone was waiting for me. Embarrassed was what I felt, at that very moment, to keep hold of everyone just for me. I sat in my boat with the appointing teacher, who was quite a good guiding light. As she was the one who I had listened throughout the activity. She told me the directions of doing specific things. Told me what the “do’s” and the “don’ts” throughout the trip. I was grateful for everything she’d done to help me. I could see the that we were now not far-away from our meeting-point, the serene lake seemed calmer now, with the white clear water splashing on my face, as the boat turned. But what I think I was obliged was that I got the opportunity to go on such an adventurous island, this was a place truly out of the world. <br />We reached the bus soon. What was unpleasant of this trip? What was the moment I did not like? And the answer was –Nothing. The trip was incredibly interesting. I enjoyed every moment on the island. And thinking so, I climbed in the bus, happily. Because there are always astonishing adventures awaiting for you, anytime.<br />-Sana Samad<br /> Grade 7<br />**********<br />