Wuhan
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Finally arrived in Wuhan today after a long trip down the River Yangtze. It was certainly an experience.
There was me, Scott a diver from Australia and 300 Chinese tourists. We did have a Chinese guide to help get tickets, but her only English phrases were, 'Give me money', 'You want WC?, and 'Thank you'. Needless to say we were pretty much in the dark about what was happening most of the time. In the end we just went with the flow and followed the masses each time the boat stopped. I was caught out once when it stopped at midnight and everyone got off to go to funfair for a couple of hours, as I had already gone to bed, but I don't think I missed much.
We certainly managed to see the Three Georges, which, even through the haze, were fantastic. They must have been spectacular before the water level was raised. It is already up 135m above what it was and is due to go up to 175m. So it's a pretty big dam all told. We did get a tour of it as the boat was going through the locks, and the size is staggering. To big to comprehend really. With all the cranes and lorries dwarfed by the immense wall on concrete it's like something out of a science fiction film.
The pollution in the country is horrific. Everywhere seams to be under a permanent haze of smog. I'm told it's better in the south, which is were I am heading next. That will be a relief as it makes my eyes stings going out in it. Not that pollution is the biggest danger, that has to be the traffic. They are all completely mad driver. Crossing the road is a nightmare as red lights are just ignored. You are a bit safer from cars on the pavement, although you do get the odd one undertaking using the pavement but you have all the motor bikes and bicycles to contend with. No wonder there are so many accidents. By contrast travelling by rail is a joy.
Anyway off to Gulin overnight tomorrow. There are supposed to be some beautiful limestone hills down there and clearer air hopefully. Then on to Hong Kong.
This has been a bit of an effort to type as the computer keeps trying to turn my words into Chinese characters. Hopefully I won the battle.
There was me, Scott a diver from Australia and 300 Chinese tourists. We did have a Chinese guide to help get tickets, but her only English phrases were, 'Give me money', 'You want WC?, and 'Thank you'. Needless to say we were pretty much in the dark about what was happening most of the time. In the end we just went with the flow and followed the masses each time the boat stopped. I was caught out once when it stopped at midnight and everyone got off to go to funfair for a couple of hours, as I had already gone to bed, but I don't think I missed much.
We certainly managed to see the Three Georges, which, even through the haze, were fantastic. They must have been spectacular before the water level was raised. It is already up 135m above what it was and is due to go up to 175m. So it's a pretty big dam all told. We did get a tour of it as the boat was going through the locks, and the size is staggering. To big to comprehend really. With all the cranes and lorries dwarfed by the immense wall on concrete it's like something out of a science fiction film.
The pollution in the country is horrific. Everywhere seams to be under a permanent haze of smog. I'm told it's better in the south, which is were I am heading next. That will be a relief as it makes my eyes stings going out in it. Not that pollution is the biggest danger, that has to be the traffic. They are all completely mad driver. Crossing the road is a nightmare as red lights are just ignored. You are a bit safer from cars on the pavement, although you do get the odd one undertaking using the pavement but you have all the motor bikes and bicycles to contend with. No wonder there are so many accidents. By contrast travelling by rail is a joy.
Anyway off to Gulin overnight tomorrow. There are supposed to be some beautiful limestone hills down there and clearer air hopefully. Then on to Hong Kong.
This has been a bit of an effort to type as the computer keeps trying to turn my words into Chinese characters. Hopefully I won the battle.
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