Here we are - amazing that we got here and such a good journey too.
We booked the plane flight 2 days ago and thought it was all done only to receive an email asking for passport copy, credit card copy signature etc etc. So had to go off and find a photocopy shop. All done though and ready to go.
Arrived in Chongqing after a short 45 minute flight (would have been 17hrs on bus). Now needed to get booked on a Chinese passenger ship asp. Luckily as we walked out of the airport there was a travel agent ready to punt for our business. The lady told us that everything was fixed by the government, the price and the itinery - (which was just what we wanted 3 days and 2 nights) the only way to get a discount was to buy 3 beds in a 4 bunk room and risk getting a new chinese friend for the trip. We didn't want to do this and the only other offer on the table was the full price plus 50y for the bus to the dock. After a debate we picked up the bags and went out to get a public bus into town. The woman came running out after us - with a reduction and free bus - so as time was short we went for it.
Next challenge was to find the supermarket Carrefour noless to stock up on pot noodles as advised by LP. As we walked down Liberty Parade a nice friendly chap "bumped" into us - perfect American English - could he help us - where were we going, where from etcetc. V excited about going into a french supermarket!!! Well it was definitely a market with whole pigs waiting to be chopped up, frogs and fish swimming around waiting to be fished out! Each counter with a mic persuading shoppers to buy their wares! Managed to get various assortments of noodles, rolled oats, milk and strawberries - oh and lots of bread, jam. Funnily enough our new chinese friend bumped into us on the way out - could he help us - flights, trips etc. Now we only wanted to get on the internet to see how to get out of Yichang and up to Beijing asp after the cruise. So Jimmy (best friends now) showed us the way and pulled up the train schedules and flights etc. Turns out Jimmy is a tour agent (funny that) with his own website and recommendation in Rough Guide. Its hard not be to suspicious of these guys - but Jimmy was alright and helped us out without any obligation or cost.
At 7pm we were escorted to the dock and our luxorious cruise ship with restaurants, supermarkets, viewing deck ..... not! The bunk room was the worse place we have stayed with mould growing out of the cupboards, no hot water, brown cold water, stank of smoke, filthy carpets, disintegrating furniture, no toilet paper, no towels shall I go on! Well it wouldn't have been so bad if the weather had been good and we could get out on deck... but did I forget to mention, you only pay for the cabin - to go up on deck is extra! 2 ways you can take this - get cross or get on with it. We did try to change cabin - but the offering was barely better so we stayed put. Our tour guide, bless him (didn't catch his name) was very helpful (and flustered) without much English - just a lot of OKOKOKOK, HELLOHELLOHELLO - had he been like Thien in Halong we may have got a bit more upset.
Sussed out where to get the hot water from - at the back of each deck was a urn of boiling water - but I had misplaced our flask, as most of the other cabins weren't yet occupied I nipped in and borrowed someone elses, deciding it would be easier for a local to ask for another flask - I had just about managed to point to "hot Water" to find the urns!
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