Blog du Wren

Yangtze River Cruise

The cruise was everything I expected, both for the good and bad. It was 3 nights and 2 days of being pampered and fed, but having everything planned for you. You woke up to music on the intercom, had assigned seats for all meals, and were given an iteneray sheet the day before, so you knew what to expect. Anyone who has been on a cruise probably has a similar story.

But it wasn't bad. The Three Rivers Gorge is really beautiful. There were guides to point out the elephant eye and moon goddess in the various rock formations (although they pretty much all looked the same to us). We did a couple of excursions off the boat to little touristy things along the banks, only one of which is worth noting because there was a geocache there!

I suppose you all don't really care about that stuff, though. You just want to hear the of the bum shaking incident. Well, the last night, there was to be a talent show. Since the boat was 90% full of chinese folks over the age of 60, I felt it was my duty to represent the U.S. with style. And since I have lugged these juggling clubs everywhere, I might as well. Otherwise I would have prolly skipped the whole thing. So, I get all practiced up and make friends with the MCs for the evening. It turns out that there are no other passanger performers, just the crew, so I felt a little silly. All their stuff was very well rehearsed. Anyhoo, one of the bits they had set up was a game in which 2 audience members come on stage, get belts with a box full of ping pong balls tied around their waists, and have to wriggle them out into a box on the floor. Well, of course I got called up, so wriggle I did. And I won too! I don't think my face has been redder in a long time. Afterwards, I did my juggling bit to much applause. Hopefully I will have pictures being e-mailed to me later.

Tuesday November 7 2006

File under: China, travel

Toggle Comments (5)

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on Tue 07th Nov, 2006 12:39 pm UTC Wren said:
Oh, and I got to see that dam that gets so much press these days and some of its effects. The structure itself is quite impressive and the numbers as to how much power it will produce, concrete is uses etc. etc. are staggering. As for its effects, they don't seem as bad as people have claimed. The small communities on the river have essentially just been rebuilt higher up the hillside, in "nicer" buildings. Granted it isn't the best in the world, but it isn't as bad as I had heard. It was very interesting to see the depth gauge painted on the cliff wall every so often to show where the water line will be in another 2 years.
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on Tue 07th Nov, 2006 03:13 pm UTC Trista said:
Did you see any of the (guesstimated 13) critically endangered Chinese River Dolphins on your cruisin? Or maybe here an echo? All that 3 gorge dammin, they really aren't taking care of their cetacea, now are they? I suppose no "swimming with the River Dolphins" tours available, eh?
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on Tue 07th Nov, 2006 04:08 pm UTC trista said:
oh, and did the tour guide point out the "higher up the hillside, nicer" native wetlands they're rebuilding in replacement of the breeding and feeding grounds of the 95% population of Snow Cranes who will be coming home again this winter?
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on Wed 08th Nov, 2006 02:16 am UTC Mom said:
Geez, it is a cruise ship! I was expecting something more on the order of the Thailand water taxis. So, Wren, aren't you glad you packed your tuxedo?
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on Wed 08th Nov, 2006 09:07 pm UTC endangered chinese river dolphin (a.k.a. Jule said:
so long and thanks for all the fish!
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