Ancient Bell Museum Program

Lock is closing, and then the water is pouring in to raise the ship to the next level.

I just discovvered that I could do more than one post at a time.

The pictures below are of a dragon ship on the river and one of when we are in the lock.

Our waiters in the dining room. Every night they had on a different uniform. So helpful and friendly. They gave us the best service.

The markers show where the

water will be when the big dam project is completed.

All the people that lived along the river have been relocated to higher ground in the "new" houses.

More sights from the river.

Many of the sights on the river was just ordinary activities for those who depend on the river to provide food, water and laundry. Always someone fishing or doing laundry or just setting and enjoying the view.

We enjoyed the view from everywhere on the ship. We saw a lot of barges going both direction on the river.

Pictures on the ship

The lounge with a strawberry smoothie. So delicious!

Yum.

Okay are you ready for a few more pictures?

Lobby of our ship. The different floors there was also a glass elevator on both sides of the lobby.

Don and ShannaLee on the Great Wall. They were standing straight, but notice the tilt of the wall. What a great adventure.

My one and only Picture of me alone on the wall. I think Don did take a picture of Shirl and I together.

Xi'an more of the wall.

This is our whole group on The Great Wall of China. It was beautiful, and very difficult to just reach this point. I was amazed that I made it and would not have been able to do it if my sweetheart had not been there to give me a strong shoulder and arm to help balance me. The steps are very steep and all different heights. I was able to go on up to the second tower by myself while Shirl went further up on his own. It was great and I really loved being able to see so far. One of my favorite highlights of the trip. Shirl bought me a shirt that says. "I climbed the Great Wall" I wear it with pride. I can check this one off my "bucket list" too. I still get excited when I remember being there.

We made it to the top. Xian I think

We made it to the top and I was still breathing. This is XI'AN a walled city with the mote after all these years. It is now in the middle of the city. This is where we bought some jade gifts for the grandkids. Yep, we did walk some on the wall. It was hot and muggy and we also enjoyed a chocolate ice cream bar while resting.

Skipping ahead

Okay, ready for more pictures of China???

It was hard to focus as the rain was pretty heavy at this moment.

I loved the seeing the Pandas. After the earthquake the country was very concerned about the Pandas as a couple of them had gone missing. I am sorry to say that they did find one that had died in the flood or landslide.
I am just happy that the others are safe for the time being. China is trying to safe them.

More Panda I think

It was raining again, this is where Shirl got soaked to the skin and eventually made him sick for the trip home.

More Pandas

The Pandas are behind me.

Yep, it is what you think it is, just don't flush the paper. It must go into the waste basket. This is the deluxe facility. The regular one does not have the little seat.

Skipping to the Panda Pics

Be sure to check out the older post as they have some more pictures of China that I just posted today. I still have the Panda Pics and the Great Wall and a few on the boat I want to post. This is the Welcome Aboard.

This fellow sold a lot of items to people on the boat. They were on both sides of the boat at every window. Most of the rafts were bamboo, some where just PVC pipe sealed on the ends. Very interesting.

River Pirates, they would attach to boat with hooks

Li River Guilin China

I loved this river, so beautiful

If it is Tuesday, it must be somewhere in China

The had drums and dancers to welcome us on board the ship. Poor guy was so hot in that costume.

This is the Heritage Park fashioned after the Polynesian Village is Hawaii. The Chinese consulted with BYU as they wanted to have a place showing all the ethnic groups that make up China. We did not really get to see it as it was closed in Memorial of the Earthquake victims. They did prepare a wonderful dinner for us, but no entertainment for three days of mourning to be observed.

Don, Shanna Lee and Shirl
taking a short break. Those things hanging around the neck are passport and ID in Case we forgot who we are or got ourselves lost. ;+)

I think this is the Viking School, the ship supports the school. It was pouring rain and very difficult to get pictures.

More fun and more steps. Loved all of China

I think this is the one at the Viking School. The Viking River Cruise Ships support this school. It was pouring rain and very difficult to take pictures.

Lets try somemore pictures. This blog is still a mystery

This is our suite on the ship as we traveled up the Yangtze River. DO NOT DRINK The Water. Was the rule of survival. You do not brush your teeth, keep your mouth closed when you shower, only drink what you buy on the bus or is provided in sealed bottles on the ship. No tap water ever, or you will be very, very sorry.

We just learned to carry the bottle with us everywhere we traveled.

Camera not liking the humidity

China Sea, this is where a lot of the pirates used to hang out and hide to attack the shipping lane traffic.

This is where we had a cool refreshing ride on a Sampan around the harbour and saw a lot of houseboats. Many of the people live on the boats all the time.

Hong Kong

Back from China June 2008

We had a grand adventure in China. We did enjoy the experience and would be willing to do it all again (If we were 20 years younger). Someone asked me to describe my impression of China and the first thing I thought about was the first thing I thought as I stepped off the plane in Hong Kong. "Feels like someone dropped a hot steamy blanket over me"
The heat and high humidity was very intense. Many of the pictures look like fog, but I think it was really steam. It was like being in a sauna that was never ending. It did not take more than a few minutes until we were all dripping with "sweat" (well past perspiration).