3 Gorges Insert #2

Unable to blog while in the 3 Gorges, I could email. Dispatch #2:

Dated 4/16/2005.
Subject: Peapods
Today we are on the stretch of river leading up to Chongquing (said "Chongching" these days). Another million or so population city. We are out of the scenic gorges. Now we see on the riverside, apartment houses, riverside biz, like coal silos (for lack of a better word), etc. Still see the farms too, with little plots of this and that.

This morning we visited the Shibaoszhi pagoda/temple that is built into a stone mountain. Sort of like it is hanging on a cliffside. In the olden days, the farmers would climb up and down the mountain by digging hand/foot holds into the mtn and using ropes. In the last 350 yrs, the town built this pagoda that hangs on the cliff to more easily get up and down. The entire street leading up to the pogada, in the pogada and all environs around the pagoda were lined with vendors! It was like running the gauntlet to get by. Dianne had an unsettling experience with vendors crammed around her trying to help make the sale for this one little ol' lady. They weren't going to let D out of their clutches. She escaped, and calmed down by the time we got back to the ship!

Yesterday, we took a morning excursion up the Shennong River, and had a ride in what the locals call the pea pod boats. Little wooden boats that hold about 14 people. The boatmen paddled ujp the Shennong River, through a few class ! rapids, and then got out of the boats and hauled us the rest of the way with ropes, singing as they pull. This is what people come here to see/experience. We were the only non-Asian travelers; and there were a lot of travelers.

Once we got up to where the boatmen were hauling us along, an intrepid vendor waded out to greet us to sell postcards of the Shennong Beauty Spot. I bought; he had to go to special lengths to get out attention. Got back to the ship, and noticed that he had written on the card that had a picture of boatmen - appears that it is his picture! A couple of yrs ago. The boatmen were in their 40s and do this as a second part time job. Rest of the time they are farmers. The farmers in the area share the tourist jobs, so the boatmen may only do this part time job 1-2 per week.

I have taken about 4 rolls of tilm in the gorges - mostly greenery and rocks!

The food continues to be a mixture of Chinese and more Chinese - all very good, and filling. Nothing to be worried about re: food upsetting stomachs.
OK, gotta go, my time is up.