In the English countryside in the county of Wiltshire lies an increasingly popular tourist attraction, the symbol of man’s early existence in Britain, the Stonehenge (henge – an old English word to describe “hanging”).
Before the trip, a friend once shared with me that all I would witness in Stonehenge are “stones on top of stones in the middle of a field which been standing there for years!” But I wanted to experience it for myself and pass my own judgement. Though I would have to admit that there is virtually nothing in this area apart from Stonehenge, I still thought that the place was attention grabbing.
Being one of the prehistoric wonders of the world, erected between 3000BC and 1600BC (or 4,000 years ago) has made it even more puzzling. Although touching the stones (ranging from 8 to 22 feet in height) is forbidden, from a short distance with the help of my camera, I have noticed some tiny plants called lichens growing on the stones, which can’t be found anywhere in the nearby fields. Whatever Stonehenge was built for, no one has yet come up with an explanation as to what the true purpose of the formation might be.
Helping provide its visitors with a better understanding of the place, an audio tour is available in many languages that helps point out the key features of Stonehenge. A guidebook is also available at the souvenir shop where you can also enjoy some drinks and snacks at the outdoor café.
Now an official World Heritage site, Stonehenge will soon be a different experience because an expansion is prepared so that visitors will no longer have to deal with traffic noise. Its preservation is mainly for the benefit of many visitors worldwide who would be even more inspired to enjoy and understand the past.
Could Stonehenge have been a holistic healing or prehistoric ceremonial structure or maybe a marking for the passing of the seasons? With all the intense debates and many theories put together, what I’ve enjoyed most about Stonehenge apart from the sight of its “hanging” stones is its mystery that will possibly remain so in long time to come!