The Mountain Where I Waited for Awe

MianShan is supposed to be sacred—Buddhist and Taoist temples clinging to cliffs, incense curling through cold air. But I kept waiting for the feeling to hit. I climbed stone steps, ducked into caves, listened to monks chanting, but mostly I felt like a tourist in someone else’s ritual. I took photos I never posted. I watched others light candles, hoping for a sign I was missing. Maybe I expected too much from a mountain, or maybe I was just tired. Not every place changes you. Sometimes you just stand there, watching the fog roll in, and realize you’re still yourself. #TravelExpectationVsReality #SacredSpaces #TravelConfessions #Travel