Sunshine Grand Hotel Yichang

... and I walked a while with them before stopping to watch the brightly neon-signed river boats passing by. There was a wonderful, chilled-out atmosphere, as people stopped to chat to each other, dogs stopped to take advantage of the odd tree, and couples stopped to sit, holding hands and looking over the river. But best of all was the activity in the landcaped narrow park strip that lined the walkway: I had got used ...

... a relatively reasonable person, and was praying no one would try to talk to me.
All that was keeping us sane was the thought of a hot shower and bed, but that was not to be. Neither was the hope of air conditioned cabins. We had apparently been upgraded to a 4 star cruise ship and weren’t sure we wanted to know what the 3 star one was like. So after a cold shower I laid, hot and sticky once again, on top of my bed and fell asleep, just happy that the long journey was at last over.

... those goals. It is safe to say based on the underwhelming excitement and lack of amazement that NONE of the Maaske Clan will enter the field of Archaeology.

On one of the hotter days we all got refreshingly wet in the water fountains at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda with our friend Betty Lee. On the 15th (14th in the West) our three older children thought they had struck 'pay dirt' when they came across a theatre playing the latest Harry ...

A very comfortable and very warm night's sleep on board, broken by the piped music system and wake up call at 7.30am. As a mini cruise, there was a Tai Chi session at 7.40 and I went to try my hand. The young kung fu instructor went straight into the squat thrusts and knee squats and whilst my 'hands' may have been willing, my other joints definitely needed a bit more gradual easing into this 'gentle' (?) exercise. Buffet breakfast was good and with the French and ...

... but given the still rising level of the Yangtze, in a couple years the same trip won't even be possible (scenery-wise at least). The trip started out as most trips in China do, being nothing what I expected. I assumed meeting at 9 am meant I would leave from the hostel and walk down to the river since it was only a few minutes away and board the ship. However, the travel agent came to the hostel around 9:45, we walked down to the pier where we ...

At breakfast (the best one we'd had for a long time - eggs, toast, fruit, tea...and of course noodles!) we were on the same table as an Aussie family - David, Barbara, Trent (21) and Melissa (18) and also a Chinese guy with his elderly mother or grandmother (who unfortunately never communicated with us other than the occasional smile or nod). The Aussie family are very well travelled; Melissa and Trent have had a gap year in Oxford; Trent has also spent several ...

... bars that make it properly (well, the way I like it anyway!). However, this bar put all the ingredients in it - vodka, bacardi, gin, cointreau and tequila!! It was just like being at one of the parties at Chez Vickers. The measures were big as well and it only cost £2! I needn't tell you that many of these were consumed during the evening. The effect of said drinks became evident around midnight. Me and Kev decided that the stage was ...

... in the vain hope that they would have an English menu, which they did. It served western food so I ordered a steak and a beer which arrived at room temperature so I had to ask for ice after trying to get through to about three waitresses that I wanted a cold beer. The steak was a bit poor and not like western steaks at all. Plus for some reason they turned the over-table lights off and all I had for light was a silly little night light candle thing that you have ...

... what's being done to help the sturgeon, Mary looked at him in all seriousness and said "We are building a museum dedicated to them". (?!?) Michael had warned us that the boat was going to be icky but it really was disgusting! It smelt terrible and had mould everywhere. We spent the evening up on the deck watching Michael do karaoke by himself (the Chinese have no shame when it comes to singing in public) and then went to ...

... medication i am led over by a nurse who administers my first dose! Whatever happened to a bit of discretion for a guy whos got a really bad case of the runs, I think as i turn to wave goodbye the gaggle of 10 smiling nurses! Local entertainment is the obligitory line dancing in the town square; its funny seeing so many people so out of time! The tia chi is a bit more honned. We get an early night and I pray that my pills work as we have ...