China Day 24

Our last full day in China had a bit of everything. We wokeup to tainbucketing down so agreed with Mick our guide that we wouldn't attempt any sightseeing until midday as it was forecast to break this morning.

As it turned out the rain just kept on bucketing so we decided to go for lunch,  reasses, and hopefully do the museum. We had booked for the optional Aerobatic Show tonight so had to book in for dinner at 5:30 to make it thereby 7:30. He also suggested we try to get to the silk factory so we settled for that plan.

The rain was still going after lunch so we headed for the silk factory where I realised I did not have my camera - logical place to check was the lunch restaurant so Mick kindly rang them - No, no bag had been left. That triggered a tour of Shanghai as we tried to retrace ourselves in the midst of pouring rain and gridlocked traffic - back to the hotel where CCTV showed I had the camera when we left, back to the garden near the restaurant but no camera. Mick was fantastic and arranged to meet a policeman at the restaurant to check their CCTV and when we got there, guess what? - they produced my camera! Not sure how/why that happened but we were very pleased to have it (and my phone) back.

Off to dinner again beautiful- and then to the show. Can't describe the performances really except to say they were unbelievable - the  gymnastics, balancing, hoop, flying acts just left you speechless. One act was based on the "globe of death" concept of riding a motorcycle inside a huge wire sphere. The difference here was that morecycles kept coming out to add and ended up with 7 going in all directions - a "you've just got to see it to believe it" moment, you left the show not really believing what you had just witnessed.

What a day to finish our China tour! Off to  the Shanghai Tower tomorrow then on the plane at 4:30 to Singapore!

China Day 23

We left the ship after breakfast and took a bus to visit the three gorges dam project - about an hours drive away. Masses of tourists, very tight military-based security but what an eye-opener. The dam wall is over 2000 metres long and almost 200 metres high so is a very impressive sight. On either side of the base are hydro power stations with 13 turbines which produce upwards of 85 billion kilowatt-hours per year - pretty impressive.

We stopped at a number of viewing points to also see the huge lock system - 5 double capacity locks for each direction working in tandem. They also have a ship lifter for smaller ships which lift the ship as well as the container and water. Altogether an incredible example of engineering, completed in 2009. China just keeps on impressing with the size and success of its projects.

Off then to catch our train to Shanghai - a trip of 1200km which we completed in 6 hours starting and arriving on time to the minute!!!

Another travel hitch - Shanghai station has 4 exits but the travel agency neglected tell us which one to go to to meet our guide! Tried to ring but no answer so followed the largest crowd but no one there. To add to the interest, there is a typhoon expected here tonight/tomorrow so it was raining steadily.  The guide eventually found us so a half hour drive got us to the Holiday Inn next to the river (could be interesting if the typhoon hits) - had to get out in the rain to grab a banana and yoghurt for dinner!

We'll have a chat with the guide in the morning when we know better what the weather is doing - might be hunkered down in the hotel yet. We'll let you know!

China Day 22

Last full day on the cruise today. We didn't do the extra excursion inthe morning but took a walk around the small village where we were stopped. They put on an early lunch as at about 1:00 we entered the second of the gorges through spectacular peaks. 

The river is a very busy thoroughfare with not only numerous cruises hips but also barges and cargo ships. At one port we passedwe counted about 100 ships tied up. Massive bridges span the wide river as well with smaller villages all along the banks.

This afternoon we reached the narrowest gorge where we transferred on to smaller boats as sections were extremely narrow but the cliffs towered 100+ metres above us.

Tonight we had the Captain's farewell dinner followed by a caberet put on by the ship staff with dancing, singing, magic show. The standard of all the performances was extremely high - they must do a fair bit of cultural activity at school as they were all very good dancers etc, Great show.

The cruise has been great - beautiful facilities, lovely crew and wonderful scenery along the way - could happily do another day or two.

Tomorrow we have another excursion to the three gorges dam and then catch the hs train to Shanghai (6hrs) for the last stage of the holiday. It has gone so quickly but has been a fabulous, mind blowing experience. We're so glad we decided to come on this trip after thinking we may not bother with China - it is by all measures, an extraordinary country.

China Day 21

Blogspot will be bit shorter for a few days as we are just relaxing and enjoying the luxury of eating, sleeping and doing the occasional shore excursion on the Yangtze cruise.

The cruise ship is a pretty large vessel and very well appointed. The food is great and the staff very friendly and attentive. We left Chongqing last night and woke up this morning at Fengdu where we had our first shore excursion after breakfast. That was quite the experience as there were about 6 cruise boats in at the same time and so there were thousands of people doing the tour of the Mount Shuanggui garden/temple area, broken up into groups of circa 10 - 15 people each with a guide who sported a mini speaker system all speaking at the same time on front of whatever statue, plaque, garden etc we were looking at. It was quite hilarious but annoying at the same time as there was no way you could hear your own guide over the cacophony (remember hairy mclary?) of sound.  There was a temple at the top remembering Confucius so at least it was a change from Buddhas. 

Back to ship by the standard shuttle bus (All this confirms why we dislike organised tours) and had a talk on the history of the Yangtze River and the 3 gorge dam project which was enormous. The rest of the day will be a well earned rest with a Captains reception this afternoon and a no doubt very good dinner tonight!

China Day 20

Having got to bed at 1:00am after our flight into Chengdu we had to be up at 6 to have breakfast and get to the railway station for the 8:30 train. All went fine. 350kph trip was smooth and comfortable and we arrived in Chongqing an hour later. Another small glitch when the normally reliable guide pick up wasn't waiting but after a while he turned up claiming he couldn't find us - we were waiting at the exit as instructed.

We ere supposed to spend the morning at the three gorges museum but that's closed on Mondays so guide Jim took us on a tour of Chongqing. Typical old merchant street was first with everyone trying to sell their merchandise. We then headed for the riverside area which was interesting - 4 years ago they had a massive flood which rose about 23 metres!. We then had lunch (typical Chinese sweet/sour fish, soup and meat/rice dishes) which wasn't as good as some we've had but pretty good,

He then took us to a magnificent parkland on high land beside the river, with a 7 storey Pagoda as lookout with views of the city. 24 million people live here so the cityscape of high rise apartments and office buildings as far as you can see is extraordinary. The gardens are just amazing with thousands of potted plants creating a colourful display and landscaped walkways. We then headed to a huge square with the museum on one side and the "Hall of the People" on the other - a massive building whose architect died in prison during the Cultural Revolution - he was arrested for basing his design on Dynasty styles which were banned at that time.

We were then delivered to the cruise ship for our Yangtze River cruise - a really beautiful ship which can accommodate 300 people but so far there don't appear to be that many. Lovely spacious cabin with deck and very well appointed. Looks like it will be a welcome, comfortable cruise for a few days. Ste ven, a fellow from Brisbane and ourselves are the only English speaking passengers.

Early night coming up after an pretty tiring couple of days. Well-earned rest.

China Day 19

Might get this posted later tonight (Sunday) as starting in the plane as we head towards Chendu having left Kashgar at 7:30 for a 4 hour flight. We had our first glitch at the airport when check-in found we weren't booked on our stated flight. Luckily Lowik our guide was still with us so he tackled the phone calls to HQ and 3ventually found they had tried to put us on an earlier flight (a good idea) but forgot to let us know, rebooked the lastseats on this flight so all sorted. We've also had a bit of trouble with Mum's hearing aid charger in China as they don't like it in checked luggage so she was diverted to baggage inspection to sort it out.

We had a fairly quiet morning in Kashgar which was quite welcome. Lowik picked us up at 12 and we checked out the largest mosque in the city - there are about 350 all up - but very different to mosques we've seen in Turkey etc. They are now illegal in China and used mostly as tourist attractions.

Lowik organised lunch at another local Uighur restaurant and this was the best yet - best lamb I've ever tasted plus narm  bread and a beautiful Noodle soup - absolutely delicious.

We then headed for the weekly farm market where every Sunday all the local farmers bring their produce and animals in for both the restaurants and to buy/sell. No words can adequately describe the scene. Thousands crowd through between food, craft, hardware, clothing, shoes, restaurants and then you reach the animal trading areas where up to 100 000 farmers haggle over selling cattle, sheep, poultry,  goats, horses, yaks, camels,- probably left some out.There were some absolutely beautiful looking cattle there. All done by haggling, no auction so it was quite a sight watching/listening to this mayhem. It is the largest such market in Central Asia and the experience of being in the middle of was indescribable.

At 5 we headed to the airport where the dramas as described above occurred. Economy class for 4 hours is a bit crampedbut we'll survive. 

China Day 18

Another late post! We've been getting back very late from our excursions for the last couple of days partly due to the Chinese Government! The government has decreed that China now operates on only one time zone which is crazy- we went to breakfast at 8.30 this morning and it was pitch black. The locals here have reacted by enacting their own unofficial time arrangements which results in everything happening a couple of hours behind the official times so we don't leave for our trips until about 10, getting home at around 8 or 9 and not finishing dinner until about 10! Thus the non-publishing of posts.

Yesterday was made worse because we did over 7 hours of travel - but it was worth it. We headed west on the "Chine-Pakistan Peace Highway" - a 1500km highway built by China to facilitate trade to the west , completed in 20 years although they could only work 5 months of the year due to the extreme height (5000 metres) and winter snow - about1500 workers lost their lives due to altitude sickness. It is an incredible journey through the mountain pass through which the silk road traders entered and left China. The mountain scenery is extraordinarily beautiful and dramatic and we visited two beautiful lakes, one man made and the other natural. Mum had a ride on a yak which was fun and we ate lunch in a (very cold) yurt. Huge hydroelectric power plant.

We reached a height of 3900 metres which made walking too far a bit hard and it was FREEZING cold! Great experience and fabulous scenery though. Should have photos on Facebook in a day or so.

Another warning - probably no post again tonight as the schedule is a bit demanding - we catch a plane at 7.30 for a5 hour flight to Chengdu, then we have to be up early for a train to Chongqing leaving at 8.30 am! This is all to get us to the start of our cruise on the Yangtze so more fun coming up!