We are still on the Yangtze 2 ship sailing down the river. Each night the rumble of the ship engines gently rock us to sleep. The ship is a good size but not overwhelming. At capacity it holds 300 passengers however we're at the beginning of the tourist season (a great time to come as crowds are more manageable) so we are at about 130 passengers on this tour. Our cabin is the 2nd smallest room we've had, (Hong Kong being the smallest) but our balcony is suspended over the water...just fantastic to sit there at night in our robes looking at the cresent moon which is a happy face smile! Sorry the blogs have been so short.Ii will try to add more as I continue.to get caught up As you know, we're been out of communication for 5 days. I've been handwriting my blog each day so we can keep track. Each city we come to, according to each new local tour guide we encounter, is the BEST city in China. The Chinese are very proud of their hometowns and the 'western' accomplishments that have been made. I must admit to my immense ignorance of this country before my arrival as I expected to see the 'rice patty' hats and drab green consistent 'uniforms' on everyone (both male and female) We have not been in the remote parts of the country but western clothes are the norm. While we were in southern China with Roy and Martine we witnessed the most fashionable clothes (and wild shoes) so far. I believe this has to do with the fact that there were a lot of young people attending the Normal university. The dullest looking city has been Xi'an. Lots of building going on there so change is imminent.
Today after breakfast we practised our 'skit' for tonight. it is the first time in the 20 tours that Richard and Sandy have hosted that the entire group has worked as a team. it's a wonderful fun group of people. we're singing Oh Canada in both french and English, This land is your Land (with homemade lyrics that refer to our Canadian hobbies and habits) and three verses of 'If you're happy and you know it...with the last verse using a Chinese saying'. Richard will speak in Chinese to ask the crowd to participate. We're wearing our bathrobes and Canadian pins as costumes. We'll give out Canadian pins and pencils to the crowds afterwards. After lunch we climbed into a smaller boat to tour 2 of the three gorges. The view is spectacular. I know my photos will not be able to capture the immensity of the mountains and view. Tour took 4 hours. Saw a monkey, 2 goats, a buddhist retreat and some 'hanging' coffins. many coffins and grave sights were re-located after the damn was built. After dinner we were preparing for the Talent night when sandy came to our door and stole mary away...something about being an Empress!. She
'performed' with another member of our group. They were wearing traditional clothes of the Emperor and Empress and had to model them in an elegant walking fashion. The Chinese in the room stood up when Mary and Richard di their thing. I hope Mary posts this somewhere! Our skit went off well. Went to bed expecting a very early wake up call.
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