China Letter #6

> China Letter # 6 Nov 1, 2006 8:30PM
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> Hello Gang
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>It's been a while since I have written because we spent three great nights cruising the Yangtze River (no internet access), an entire day transferring and flying to Shanghai/Suzhou, and all day
today touring Suzhou, the Venice of The East.
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After I wrote last, we took a 1.5 hour bus ride to Chongqing and visited the museum of the Flying Tigers, the Americans who assisted the Chinese fight the Japanese during WWII.
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Of note, Chongqing is a great place to invest because it is the departure port city of Yangtze which leads to the massive (and controversial) 3-gorges Dam Project. The dam is scheduled for
completion in 2008. Because 1/3 of China's population lives along the river, the dam's flooding of lower lying areas has forced relocation of 2 million people. That is the size of Miami! They have actually built new cities on the opposite side of the river for the relocation initiative--brand new modern cities, where farmers and peasants; lived for many generations.
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Next we boarded our ship, The Yangtze1. There was a big mishap because a family of three who had booked two suites (staterooms) had only one waiting. They were
livid and it was never resolved. The rooms are not built for three.
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I was comfortable solo. Our staterooms all had balconies so we could watch the majestic scenery as we cruised through the 3 gorges.
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I bargained for more goodies before bed.
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It was nice to have full access to western toilets for 3 whole days.
A hole in the ground variety is simply not my cup of tea. We still had to use bottled water to brush our teeth. This is standard for us.
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In the AM, we awoke to a soft music wake up call. By then I was sleeping through the night. It took me five days to be able to sleep till 5 or 6AM.
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During the day, we went on an excursion to Fengdu,The Ghost City. A bit overdone and too commercial was our vote-- but the history of worshipping the dead was interesting and we took cable car up and back.

Today, on the ship, we watched a foot reflexology lecture, I bargained for a great black and red jacket, and I line danced with a group of Indonesians.
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During meals, they grouped large groups according to country. There was Israel, India, Singapore, Indonesia, America, Germany etc.
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I read some of my novel; The Other Boleyn Girl. It's about Anne Boleyn’s younger sister who was seduced my Henri VIII before her sister was. I am remembering all I had learned about life
in the English Royal family (Tudors) back then. It is very engaging!
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The scenery along the Yangtze takes your breath away. I wont use the word majestic again. (smile). It reminds me of Halong Bay (in north Viet Nam) with limestone rock formations, bright green mountains, and it is spotted with commercial fisherman and cruisers. I had a manicure,
We watched a fashion show tonight, and we attended the captain’s welcome party.
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It was hazy most of the fist day but the second day unfolded as bright and sunny.
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The 3 Gorges Dam will provide hydro-electric power to much of China (reducing the need for coal); ease shipping; and prevent flooding. The whole world is watching this gargantuan project.
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Day 2: We took a one- hour ferry surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery, even high-wire artists, to a tributary: The ShenNong Stream. We were ushered into wooden boats-- 15 at a time and rowed and PULLED by FOUR of the strongest men in the world. They pulled us from the shore and while walking in the stream with their bare hands and underwear-clad bodies. It was fantastic! In the past, the men worked naked; they were so poor they would not wear the only pair of pants They ranged in age from 18-79. I am still marveling at their fortitude and persistence.
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We spent the entire next day touring the Dam and flying to Shanghai, then driving to Suzhou. We are tired of the logistics of buses, airports, airport security, repacking, changing hotels etc.

I had a horrible cold two days in a row.
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I bargained well for a beautiful jade bracelet! You bargain everywhere here; even in retail stores.
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Suzhou
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Suzhou, The Garden City, is known as the Venice of the East.

It is considered to be one the most beautiful in all of China attracting wealthy families who built magnificent private gardens. I M Pei (Louvre Pyramid architect) is from here. The city is built along canals with hundreds of bridges. It is also know for its silk and embroidery and beautiful women. We saw silkworms producing silk in the silk museum, and people spending 3 years on massive embroidery works of art.
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We toured the Master of the Nets Garden; it’s the garden after which the Chinese garden in the Met (New York) is patterned. I visit that garden every time I go to the Met.
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Our lovely hotel has several beautiful courtyards that are replicas of the famous gardens. It is nestled in the heart of the lively old town.
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We had the afternoon free for shopping.
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I am so tired from all the walking and learning (and cold) I hope this letter makes sense. Tomorrow we travel to Shanghai for our last day and night in China.
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Signing off.
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Fondly,
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Karla
Suzhou