Slow Boat

Day 37: Chongqing (CN) – Wushan (CN). For the same reasons that Karen and I had come to love travelling by train; boat travel offered the same stimulating and relaxingly adventure; the same change of perspective and pace. Only slower.

Perched on a couple of old plastic chairs just below the bridge of the Su Lie, Karen and I had the perfect vantage point to while away the morning and watch the scenery unfold as the passenger ship that was to be our home for the next couple of days, carefully navigated her way along the world's third and China's longest river. Huge modern cities, grimy towns, quaint villages, rice fields and mountain vistas, the Yangzi had them all. With the serenity and gentle motion of the ship, I closed my eyes to take a nap only to be rudely awakened by a long blast on the ships horn as another vessel crossed our bows. As with the roads in China, the rivers suffer the same levels of congestion as barges, cargo boats, passenger ships, cruise liners, pleasure craft and traditional fishing boats all vie for position.

As the boat meandered it's path along the river we made shore at Fengdu. As with the rest of China we were warmly welcomed, although as the only westerners aboard, we continued to provide a source of entertainment to the locals.

Taking our opportunity on dry land to browse the market stalls, Karen's eye was caught by a rather fetching cashmere jumper. Disappointed by the fact she didn't have it in Karen's size, the trader disappeared for a few minutes only to return with the same oversized jumper but this time with a different label denoting the size sown into it! Whether you call that superb customer service, opportunism or fraud – you've got to admire it.