Thursday, April 2, 2009

Up The River


Tuesday We took a boat ride up and down the Li River. The weather did not look promising but in four days the sun has failed to grace us with its presence so we couldn't let that deter us. After a short bus ride we switched to a motorcycle with a cab on the back for the ride down to the river. There was a slight drizzle but nothing we couldn't handle. The boat or pvc raft had a hand made 2 cycle engine with a small trolling propeller on it. There were six of us coming down the slick steps and boarding the raft but after four of us were seated, the captain must have decided that was enough because he pulled away from shore! After the stragglers were safely on board we began our slow journey up river. When I say slow, I mean the ducks were going faster than us. I don't think they have many foreigners on these things. Westerners tend to weigh more than Asians and that little boat was struggling. The mist was getting heavier and it was difficult to see the mountains around us but every turn in the river or so, we had a photo op. The river looked like any street in China, crowded with vehicles, and the large cruise ships kept us fighting the waves and taking on water. We put in on a small shoal where the peddlars and hawkers awaited, swarming us with their trinkets and snacks, bulls with flowers and bows in their horns and cormorants on a stick. That's not a snack. Before more modern methods, cormorants were the main way of fishing for the people here. They dive for the fish and the fisherman removes the catch from their throats which are blocked from swallowing by string tied around their necks. They are large birds but not very heavy. I held two of them on a long pole. I also ate tiny river crabs on stick. Tasty, but then, most things deep fried are, right? The return trip was the best part totally by accident, literally. We got hit by another raft and he had to tow us back. Our captain really knew what he was doing because he lashed us together in no time and kept the other motor started and restarted as it pulled more weight than it was designed for. The guilty rafter just stood around in his suit while the old guy took over. I could just hear him murmering, "whippersnapper, let an old man show you how it's done". There was no argument, no yelling, they just quietly discussed who was at fault (the young guy in the suit) and then when our motor refused to restart, he had to give up his plans for the day to take us back. We took on a lot of water and then it started pouring. We were quite a sight and attracted much attention from everyone passing us. Ahhh, good times! The trip back on the motorcycle "truck" was not without thrills as the video below will show. How many close calls can we have in one day? We found a little restaurant out of the rain for dinner and headed back for full body massages. Despite the nasty weather, this was probably one of the best days in China! Good friends, good food, good times. Let it rain!
Mandy
"The best thing to do when it's raining is let it rain."-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

















3 comments:

  1. No video. Or is it just my computer? Sorry. Good friends and good food ALWAYS make for good time, I agree. Enjoy the rest of the trip. Sara

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  2. mander,
    Just got home last night. No place like home. We had a great time with you both! Thanks for taking care of us! Miss you. Love this pic. of Beau.. he looks so "special".
    S. Frechette

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