Friday, 8th August
Waking up fit after a good nights sleep we were having our breakfast. A buffet of the usual bread, noodles, egg frying cooks, congee etc. Some of the passengers already had their TaiCi exercises (06.00 hours). Then we went touring the boat, visited all the shops and took notice of the full programme that day. Every hour seemed to be taken care of. There was a fire drill of course, just in case. Every passenger cabin had two swimming vests.

The highlight today was a shore excursion to the Shibaozhai temple after lunch. Lunch and diner were served in the big dining room. We had a young couple from the States at our table. Usually you were placed with others who presumably would understand your language. It was quite entertaining to hear the experiences of those americans during our lunches and dinners. Everywhere alongside the YangTze were points where we could see markings as how high the YangTze would be when the Three Gorges Dam project would be finished in 2009. Right now the Yang Tze was 60 meters higher than before. In 2006 it would be raised to the 135 m mark and after that in 2009 to the 175 m mark. We also saw curiously quays and harbours to be on the hillside at the 175 m mark.

Just before the shore excursion all passengers assembled and were split up according to the tour agencies where we arranged the cruise. Then we went ashore lead by the assigned guides (speaking fluent English) and were confronted with the heat which was then nearing 40¾ C. Somehow you adapted, although my t-shirt was drenched completely and several liters could be wringed out. By then I was careful to nurture my videocamera and let it acclimatize itself before shooting. The 12 stories pagoda was a bit challenging if not intimidating, but afterwards I would recommend it to every 50 plusser (even they who never use a stair). After climbing the steps to the next floor you had to hear a lengthy story from the guide about it's history etc. I was busy making video's but let Grace listen. So you get plenty of time to hide your shortage of air. Before I knew we were on top of the pagoda, no sweat. Well, I was earnestly hoping that the monks who made the pagoda had foreseen that in a few hundred years overweight tourists would test their craftsmanship. The typical Chinese construction didn't use a single nail. The pagoda was actually perched on a steep slope of a hill. From the ninth storey we stepped up to the hilltop itself and had a grand view of the YangTse. The hill and the pagoda was situated in the corner of an almost 90¾ bend of the Yang Tze, indeed it was a very strategic point. From the top of the hill you could go higher, three more stories up to the twelfth floor of the pagoda. While in the pagoda you could see the interesting structure. It was built to perch on the hillside for the first nine stories. So on one side there were no walls but the natural hillside, no nails were used and it was built in 1662 AD. On top of the hill there were more small temples. Everything was reasonably clean and there were several stalls selling the usual tourist trinkets and postcards. Downwards was through a cemented staircase on the other side of the hill. Most of us didn't bother about toilets, you just sweated out all the water in no time.

Back in the boat and sailing again, there was a massage demo. Grace was so clever to be a volunteer and had a free massage. Invigorating. After that there was a accupuncture demo, there was a real Chinese doctor on board who did the accupuncture and showed needles and other things. He told us accupuncture must be some 5000 years old and it originated when people were primitive and still living in caves and by experience found that the body had those special points which influenced it's health and wellbeing. Then a silk embroidery demo. So up to the captains's welcome party we had a lot to attend and listen to and see and experience. Grace told me how wonderful the silk embroidery demo was. She told me that Chinese embroidery was so complete that both sides of the embroidery could be seen complete. Further she was told that the silk threads weren't colored. The silk threads had different colours naturally, depending on the food the silk worms were fed, which recipes are a big secret of course. Several threads of the same colour would become one darker thread. One point of our concern was the comparatively low prices the embroiderers got while sacrificing their eyesight since it was quite an intense piece of work which took weeks or even months. There was also a chinese painting demo. You could see how a traditional chinese painting was created. We had ouselves taught to play mahjong and Walter and me discovered the thrills of table tennis.

The captain's cocktail party preceded dinner which was always a sumptuos affair with more than 10 varieties. So many that we couldn't remember how many exactly except that it was always, vegetables, meat, chicken, fish and tofu. And let's not forget the accompanying complete dessert buffet. From creme brulé, petit fours, cakes, fresh fruit. I have had better dinners in Shanghai and can imagine it would be difficult to find a top cook to cruise the yangtse. But after all it was more than we could eat and I wouldn't complain about the food quality and pleasant and attentive service of the personell. It would be hard to find better food on the YangTze river. And everything was included in the price except the drinks we had to sign for. The same can be said for the lunches, complete, never ending supplies of food and a good mix of western and taditional chinese food like all sorts of dumplings.
After dinner we had an entertaining night where crew members did some delicate chinese folklore dances at the nightclub called Valentino. The ship has actualy a staff like a hotel staff directed by mr. Garcia from the Phillipines and he assures you'll get a cruise to remember. Always very attentive and taking care of things. I almost forget to mention the daily morning Taiji exercises on the deck. Invigorating!

All the while you could stay in your cabin and look out through the cabinwide windows or go updeck and just lookaround, take a seat, start a chat, have a coffee and let China glide by. Wonderful, I'm glad I have a video camera to enjoy it several times more. I enjoyed the 3.5 hour boat cruise in Guilin but almost three full days of Yang Tze was incomparable.

Index page

YangTze the first day

YangTze the third day

YangTze the fourth day

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