The 3 gorges area is beautiful and the excursions are centred around each gorge and its particular beauty and pagoda/temple/inaccessible by anything other than water village etc etc. The gorges are dramatic in their current form so goodness knows how incredible it would have been before the water level was raised by 100 metres. That said, the river is very clean, slow running (whereas before it would have been a lot shallower but treacherous) and a lovely colour turquoise so has in no way detracted from the beauty of anything. It's hard to know what to say about the whole project really. Westerners are very fuelled by half truths but seeing the conservation and rehousing project and speaking with locals gives you a totally different outlook on the whole thing. It's quite funny to see where a village has basically been moved 150 meters further up the hill, moving all the temples and pagodas with them, but having new houses in the process.
The dam produces enough energy to power 5 vegas's all day every day at a cost of 5 cents a mega watt. It is cheap and it's clean. There are funny Eco stories about how the sturgeon were repopulated on both sides of the dam and ginko and herbal trees also moved and replanted. In 13 years much of what was disrupted has now resettled and has a new place to call home.
Crew cabaret and karaoke nights were extremely entertaining and took cheesiness to another level. Dani and I took advantage of the on board salon and had our hair coiffed. The lady gave the best hair wash and head massage ever. I went to Chinese calligraphy and dumpling making lessons.
Feeling thoroughly relaxed after our time on board. Lots of naps, films, gym and good food in between excursions.
Navigated Chongqing megatropolis (population 33million) this morning and headed to Jangbei airport where we are currently awaiting our flight to Shanghai where we finish our trip!
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