Just returned from a trip to The Three Gorges which was a fantastic experience
marred only by the fact that my translater could not tell me anything about anything which was rather a pity.
A travelogue went like this...
"What is that place?"
"It is a building."
"What is that bridge called?"
"It is a bridge."
"What is that?"
"It is a statue?"
The scenery was spectacular. I bought a couple of
books about the Gorge and the Dam project so have spent this morning reading about where I have been and learning all about
this amazing river that I have now seen.
The start was by expressway through a very prosperous rice country all in water,
and totally deserted, because of the vacation.
Large houses dominated, and I worked out that each house had so many
paddy fields and the tiny cottages had just one or two. The houses here, all over the total area travelled, are exactly the
same..white rectangles of either two or three stories..some looking more prosperous than others but all exactly the same.
Tried to find out whether they are government owned/built with no success, but it fascinated me that rich and poor live in
the same dwelling basically and right next to each other.
(The houses were built by the Government and after 1990, houses and land
are being sold to people who can afford to buy them.)
The lowest level is like 2 garages and sometimes shops
are run
in this level. Sometimes the top levels have no windows so I worked out these were the poorer tenants.
After the water
fields there were field which had some rice at the seed stage. Every so often an old man was cutting and arranging in piles of
cut rice. He used a sickle.
Ploughing is done with a single buffalo and a plough and the man walked
along behind in th emud. Very picturesque but did not get photos as the car sped along at a furious pace and it rained steadily,
so most of the shots I did get are very misty.
There are many tolls and toll gates..5 or 6 of 20 yuan a time...maybe the
poor don't use tolls. Excellent roads all the way. Got hopelessly lost in the first place and arrived late after asking directions,
many times, and going through some spectacular mountainous scenery past almost the same houses, but with tiny gardens along
the strips, and along the road. Planted cabbages, beans and herbs mostly and one tiny patch was a complete
rice crop..all
10 metres by 1 metre of it.
Stayed in the mountains...overlooking water, then the next day went for a ride on a boat on
the Yangzte. Spectacular scenery..just like the fiords of NZ actually...took many photos, but the weather was dull. At
times, the rain actually ceased, but never for very long.
Went to an island and into some caves which freaked me a bit as I have a
fear of caves ,and the interpreter did not understand what I tried to tell her. Grin!! The caves had some extraordinary carvings
of dragons and a huge scorpion.
Another cave had maidens bathing and figures.
Then we went to another island and the others walked up the cliff
to a cave where some dejected monkeys were tied in chains. I stayed below and talked to the dancers and bought toys.
Then the cultural performance was interesting..young people
did several dances to very loud playing of cymbals and a drum
accompanied by tooting of a horn and loud singing.
It
was colorful and very jolly and here my camera gave up which was rather sad.
After lunch went white water rafting.
This is a fantastic racket.
They pay for the boat, then have to buy
a cheap plastic poncho and
pants so 'they don't get their clothes wet.' I refused to go as I
know there is no way
one can raft without getting wet. They took off shoes on my advice and bought cheap thongs and plastic shoes. Off they went,
and I have two photos only... two to a rubber dinghy.
At the end..they were all soaking wet through and the traders were ready
with cheap pull on pants and t shirts to sell to the wet, hopefully rich tourists. I laughed and laughed! What a
racket! One japanese business guy looked extremely funny in his business shirt and tie wearing cheap stretchy,blue, windcheater
type pull-on tight leggings and blue plastic sandals.
It was bitterly cold too but not raining.
The toilet is on the ground
and sometimes two or three open toilets together. I am getting used to squatting and wonder how I would have gone when I had
the troublesome knee at the beginning after my fall at the ferry Terminal at Hong Kong.
That night we stayed in a very luxurious hotel at Yichang.I stayed alone.
I prefer living alone as being constantly on guard, and talking slowly is difficult and quite a strain.
Am learning Chinese from anyone, and know over 20 words
as well
as counting, so getting there. Today all by myself I bought some ink and brushes and started writing the chinese symbols.
I did enjoy the Three Gorges Trip.
It was a wonderful experience.
