[Location] The Riparian Falls

[BlueberryKitty]

For all that the city of Riparia sat beneath the looming shadow of a volcano, it still was a city of beauty and nature. The same water source that in previous ages had made the city the site of a famous waterpark still gave the life-giving liquid to the city. Trickling down the side of the mountain in sparkling streams that joined together, rushing down the rocks and cliffs in a beautiful series of waterfalls water flowed. At the very base of the mountain these falls had dug a shallow lake, and continued to dig at the volcanic rock even as spectators watched. Recognising this as a place of great beauty, the city of Riparia declared the area a city park, and took great pains to landscape and care for the place.

Sanded paths wound through individually themed gardens, over tiny wooden bridges that spanned small man-made streams with bright fish. Trees and shrubs were carefully cultivated into pleasing shapes, and flowers of different varieties were planted into brilliant displays of colour. One of the gardens was a small labyrinth of trellises covered with sweet-smelling roses of multitudes of different colours. Another had a path that circled a small pond covered with lily pads, lotuses, turtles and frogs. Everywhere were graceful stone benches for strollers to sit and reflect in the peace and beauty of the Riparian Falls. Sitting beside a carefully landscaped waterfall were the stone images of three monkeys; one with his eyes covered, one with his ears covered, and the last with his mouth covered. These seemed to be a popular favourite.

One small garden was composed entirely of rocks. The sanded bed displayed various natural rocks in different colours and shapes, each arranged artistically beneath the dappling shade of trees. In spring and summer most of the trees bore large blossoms, such as fruit trees, dogwoods and myrtles. Close to the large falls, a smaller fount of water had been divided to form a curtain of water behind which strollers could walk on a relatively dry path.