Once again, Eric, Marty, and I marveled at the new delights to be found on the buffet. Something tells me that the breakfast on the ship wont compare to what we are having here. Checked out, paid for my Duck Curry (Y130) and headed to the bus.
Davids talk this morning was on the cultural revolution and its affect on his family and the country. He definitely isnt pulling the party line talking about how his grandfathers land was confiscated, but unlike in Russia, he at least got to keep his head.
The bus ride was about two hours to get to Suzhou, the Venice of the East. Well, the definitely have canals part of a network that stretches North to South, all the way to Beijing. Our stop here is at one of the seven national gardens the Garden of the Master of Nets. Covering an acre and a half, this walled garden used to be private, but now is run by the state. Parts of it are over 800 years old. I think it would be wonderful to come back and see it in the rainy season since all the walkways are covered from the elements at the height of summer with all the tourists it was a little warm and crowded.
Next stop on our tour was a Silk Spinning factory I was amazed by the Rube Goldberg-ness of the automatic cocoon filament puller to spin the yarn. Even though on the way in from the airport Dick said that this wasnt a shopping tour of China we had the chance at the end to by many many many things made from the silk. I was tempted by a few, but after the rug purchase the day before, my heart wasnt into spending any more money.
I was fascinated by the process of how silk is made, and how they use double cocoons for making comforters but not enough to buy one. Did find a beautiful duvet cover (US $210, then add the pillow cases and dust ruffle) and some shirts (US $50). My will held out, today.
Lunch was what has become the usual lazy susan Chinese food selection with the complimentary glass of beer Budweiser this time. For Y15 ($1 = Y8) we purchased an additional bottle to wash down the food.
After lunch was a longer bus ride to Nanjing where we join the boat but first there is a tour of the old city wall from the 14th century. As we were close to a large lake and the Yangtze river, the humidity reminded me about the worst of growing up in the Midwest during those hot summers. Great views, but the haze from pollution reminded me of Nuclear Winter, or The Day After the sun was a glowing orange ball through the haze.
Twenty minutes after leaving the wall, we were boarding the boat and twenty minutes after that we set sail I was amazed at the efficiency, though not as amazed as I was at my cabin. Wow.
The cabin is 10×26 with a queen size bed (once I had them push the two singles together), a love seat, writing desk and chair, coffee table, 2×3 shower with sliding glass doors, and a bunch of closets. And then there is the deck 2x10 with two metal deck chairs that would be through the sliding glass doors. All this in the cheapest cabin on the boat! When I unpacked I pulled my carpet out of the suitcase and laid it on the floor to add a little personal touch to the cabin.
Not much time between boarding and dinner at 7pm. Enough time for a shower GREAT water pressure and lots of hot water. Over dinner, Marty and I split a bottle of Chinese Chardonnay it wasnt too bad. Tonight, I pick up the bottle of wine, hopefully she will consent to a lighter bodied red. For dinner I had the duck comfit salad with the raspberry vinaigrette dressing (with too many seeds in it), followed by the potato garlic corn chowder (good), then the sirloin (bland, too thin, never again) and frits, and for dessert the cheese and fruit plate (excellent).
Exhausted and back in the cabin I had a couple of scotches, rearranged the furniture, put it back where it was (just didnt work) and conked out at 9:30pm.
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