Happy labour day. Dam, that's a powerful dam! The 3 Gorges Dam generates 45% of China's energy. Slept through most of the 5 stage lock that transports the boat down the 130m difference in water level, and takes about 4 hours. But we had a trip onto dry land to have a look at the dam and locks from a couple of vantage points above. Rather misty today though so not the clearest view :( Chilled in the cabin with the picture window at our feet watching the gorge-ou...

Swapped to a smaller boat for a trip through the 3 smaller gorges this morning. Stunning scenery. Passed a hanging coffin - an exposed cave high up the cliff where Ba people (a now extinct minority - though I first thought she said 'bad' people) were 'buried' 1000 yrs ago. Had my photo taken with about 10 Chinese people in a row - not sure if it's a compliment or if they want a souvenir of last nights awful karaoke act! Back on the Pearl, we passed through the o...

Happy birthday Libbe :) And of course happy wedding day Will & Kate. Started the day with a shore excursion up to Ghost city. Interesting statues! And tests to check whether you are good or bad - to decide whether, once expired, you should go to the underworld for torture, re-incarnated or the top prize - immortality. A bit like a sobriety test - walking over a bridge in odd number of steps, girls starting with right foot, boys with their left...balance on 1...