Sorry, I was in cruise with no internet connection, so I can't update my blog. Anyway, I'm back from the nice cruise.. Although the cruise I stayed in is an 2 star one, it was fun though.
12th Sept 2008 Friday
Exciting weekends ahead from today! This weekend, we’re going to various places of interest in Hubei province.
Highlights of the weekends:
- Visitation to the site of Three-Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Project
- Board cruise @ Yichang City
Got up the coach from 8am onwards, all the way to 230pm with intervals of break in between, and we had lunch @ one of the restaurants in Yichang City.
buildings along Yichang City (looks like S'pore HDB)/dian ma mu 电麻木
shops along the street/upstairs of it (watch out, it's abit explicit)
After lunch, we went to visit the site of the Three Gorges Dam. Below is a brief description of the site I received from teacher’s document.
The Three Gorges (三峡) region is a scenic area along the Yangtze River in China. The three gorges are: Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡, from Baidicheng to Daxi, 8 km), Wu Gorge (巫峡, from Wushan to Badong, 45 km), Xiling Gorge (西陵峡, from Zigui to Yichang, 66 km).
The Three Gorges Dam (长江三峡大坝) is a hydroelectric river dam that spans the Yangtze River at Sandouping (三斗坪) in the middle of the Xiling Gorge. It is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world. The dam was completed in the summer of 2006, and the water level in the Qutang, Wuxia, and the western portion of the Xiling Gorges has already begun to rise. The dam would change the scenery of the Three Gorges. Because the water level will be higher, the river will be wider and the mountains will appear lower.
our tourguide of the day/right behind the three gorges dam
model of the entire project (fully completed with elevators by 2010) 
picture above: the right lane which is the upstream river, there're 2 way split.
One of it transport ship weighs higher than 3,000 tonnes (right side, they called it the 五级). And the other lane is only for ships weighs up to 3,000 tonnes.
down stream (front view)
downstream (rear view)
Some fun pictures at one of the scenic area of the Three Gorges Dam:
me & guanbin on one of the statue/one of 长江大桥
Some funny signboards: 
Just before we head to the pier, we had a fulfilling dinner @ one of the restaurants in Yichang.
Then we boarded our cruise called by the name Princess 贵妃 and we cruise from Zigui to Badong.
13th Sept 2008 Saturday
Last night sleep, I didn’t really catch a wink and I woke up feeling drained. Anyway, when we woke up, we’ve reached Badong 巴东 from Zigui.
middle right {the cruise journey to our first destination}
After breakfast, we boarded another smaller ship and headed to another place of interest. On the way to the place of interest along Yangtze River, I noticed an array of beautiful scenic landscapes and took some of it. The breeze is so cool and refreshing. Standing at the outer decks of the ship, I feel so relax and calm by the semi-still clear waters. Amazingly, the life in the outskirts of Yangtze River remains peaceful.
Housing along the river:
Boaters:
Upon reaching to another pier (picture on the right), I then came to know that we’re going drifting along the river! To my surprise, 10+ of us are going board the sampan-like boat and being driven by man strength (about 5-6 people). The cost of these Sampan-like boats is about 6,000 RMB if it’s bought from commercial. However these people consult the specialists in their villages to build the boats for them instead, which cost lesser than 6,000 RMB I supposed.
initially at calm current, they row. going against current, they pull. (pictures below) what's more is that we're going upstream.
Green Tea cultivation:
Giant Salamander {Wawa Yu 娃娃鱼}
Because of the wails of this fish in the river, the villagers then name it as 娃娃鱼. *Looks cute yeah?
lunch
Something interesting I heard from the tour guide: These fit men called “伙计” are really something. They lived in small houses in the mountains and early in the morning about 3-4am, they would wake up and ride on their boat to the pier to wait for people like us to tour around the river. Looking at their bodyline, I assumed that they are really the tough men who went through the hardship and what’s more, living with the nature – water & vegetation, their health should be as strong as an ox!
In the period of mid September, the water level would normally rise up to 175m. However, today when we drifted along the river, the water level was about 135m.
As the water flowed from the top of the mountain, it is used as an important water source for the villagers who stayed in the mountainous areas. To that, I heard that the villagers has very nice skin complexion because of the pure water.
Most of their equipments’ materials used are made of bamboo.
After lunch, we went back to our bunk to take a rest and in between, there’re some activities where we gather up to the deck and view to the mountainous areas along Wu Xia Jing Qu 巫峡景区.
signify a frog
promphet fish at the right lower mountain
Dinner was good but lunch was certainly better.
Straight after dinner, we visited Bai Di Cheng 白帝城 (a temple), which is our final place of interest for the day. Surprisingly, I thought it’s going to be an easy trip up, but in the end, we’ve to climb a long flight of stairs!
a tourist getting a lift up the flight of stairs
a scene of liubei and 2 of his sons kneeling down
a souvenir I bought in the store.
Reflection along the mountains:
While drifting along the Yangtze River in a sampan-like boat, I admire the several 伙计whom steer the boat along the river and at a point they pull the entire boat of 10+ppl, using bamboo ropes only. By their strong and hasty movements of the boats, I feel that their endurance level is very high. What’s more, they are very persistent and competent when the other boats overtook them, they would do their best to undercut instead. Apart from the boating lifestyle they cultivate over there, I came to know that they do trading of the cultivation of crops as well, or even selling to outside markets to earn money. Their lifestyle is very simple and peaceful. Most probably, they don’t live on computers & internet. Looking at their simplicity and nature habitat lifestyle, I feel that it is very healthy and meaningful. If given to me a chance to experience a lifestyle there, I would love to try.
take care all! God Bless.
jac
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