Different sleep with 2 single beds pushed together with the 2 single duvets. I asked Jeffrey did they have queen size duvets, no. The internet on here is crap I do not know what the internet speed is but with 500 crew and passengers it is non existent. If I can get my blog up I will upload the photos later.
Up at 06:00 showered and breakfast started at 06:45. Jeffrey our camp cruise director got on the intercom at 06:30 to Penny’s delight telling people going on the Three Tribes Gorges tour get their arses out of bed, go and have breakfast then meet up on level 2. We as 17 people from Hong Kong and Penny and I met up with our guide and navigated through 3 cruise ships until we reached the quayside and made our way to the bus. The bus journey took 50 minutes where we stopped and waited for the ferry boat to take us up the river, it was well decorated pagoda houses stuck on top of the vessel. It was cold and damp around 5 C, cloudy just not nice, having thermals on helped. The ferry ride only lasted 15 minutes where we reached the 3 Tribes Gorge and disembarked, it was slow the Chinese certainly don’y move fast. We followed the path up the Gorge and we saw local people pulling a boat in and singing, a lady on a boat waving at us, man and woman in costume looking cold, then a mock wedding staged. The scenery was beautiful, high rock faces and mountains plus an assortment of vegetation. We saw a half dozen macaque monkey’s high up in the vegetation they were swinging from tree to tree enjoying themselves. At the mock wedding ceremony the bride threw her bouquet towards Penny and she was thinking shit and then this guy jumped up and intercepted it, we had a good laugh about it. Made our way back to the ferry 15 minute ride and we got off and hopped on to the bus. Back to the ship once again navigate through 3 vessels up to level 6 lunch time. Salads, fruit and the french stick were good rest of the food was okay.
After lunch we made our way to reception for our tour to the Three Gorges Dam this trip is a freebie as the morning tour cost £33 each. The bus ride was 30 minutes and when we arrived at the Dam site all had to go out go through security whilst the bus meet up with us once we got through security. From there we were taken to escalators which took us to the top of the viewing area. From there we could see the length of the dam of about 3 km long. To the side there was a double lock for the boats to go up and down. One side is 65 m and the other side is 15 m and it takes 48 hours to go through the 5 or 7 gates. Came across a lovely looking rock acclaimed to be 20 million years old. Finished the tour and bus back to the cruise terminal navigated through the 3 vessels and got back to our cabin. Been a long day but enjoyed both tours.
Got ready for dinner Penny looked lovely in a dress and flat shoes, she looks different from not wearing hiking boots and trousers. We went and had dinner out table is by the window thanks to Jeffrey. The salads were good, the rest so so, I will not be putting weight on this mini cruise. We commenced sailing at 19:30 Jeffrey got on his micro phone and announced that there were 6 birthdays in the past couple of days with the passengers and Penelope was called with 5 others. They put a red hat on her and everyone sang happy birthday in Chinese and again English. The 6 birthday people were presented with a birthday cake which tasted quite good. We had some and kept a couple of slices for later on and I shared the rest with the Chinese couples near our table which they thoroughly enjoyed.
20:45 off to see the Captain Welcoming party see what he has to say. He turned up with the big chef and few or the senior services ladies. The show was compared by Jeffrey. There was dancing afterwards and a few canapes to be eaten. Then we called it quits and returned to our cabin.
Maurice's Travel 