Happy Birthday!

I have to say, my birthday in China (June 22) was one of the most memorable birthdays I've ever had. On that day we all took a one-and-a-half hour drive to the city of Hangzhou, a city regarded as one of the greenest and most beautiful places in China, nestled on the banks of the gorgeous West Lake.

Our first stop in Hangzhou was at an ancient pagoda, where our tour guide explained to us the legend behind it. The story told that there was once a scholar in Hangzhou who fell in love with a beautiful woman who was actually a white snake. For their love, the gods cast the White Snake Lady into a well buried deep beneath the pagoda.