15 August 2007 Raising the water
Three Gorges Dam – Sandouping – > Shanghai
With grace and style – we packed up this morning, and were on our way to see the new Three Gorges Dam. I have already mentioned that there is significant human as well as environmental impact from the project. It is not just the relocation of 1,3M people – two significant cities and a good dozen other communities. Or the industries that will have to be built somewhere else – I also wonder about the contamination effect on the river of all the industrial buildings and coal mining areas that are going to wind up underwater. The upside is the generation of significant more power by hydroelectric, decreasing the amount of coal consumed. Try breathing the air here and you will understand why this is not a small point.
Did I mention that I forgot to turn my camera off last night? End result was dead batteries – so you are spared pictures of the dam under construction. They are in Phase 3/3.
I managed to get my battery recharged upon our return. The suitcases were already gone and we had turned in the room keys. On arrival at Yichang, we loaded on to our bus and set off –
lunch and airport on the agenda.
More tourists – most seemed to be tourist travelers and the airport was reminiscent of Frankfurt-Hahn with the whole day’s flights posted on the board, one counter per flight and a cattle car push to board. At least there were seat reservations.
After landing in Shanghai – we traveled by bus to Suzhou. I like the Holiday Inn. Clean rooms that don’t rock under your feet – tub along with the shower and a chance to do some laundry. Of course – I am not completely sure as to why there is a window in the bathroom that looks over the rest of the hotel room. Since there are lattice blinds – you can chose to have privacy.
Internet. Internet is also important. Even if Blogger, our travel firm, and Typepad are blocked. It tells me that the censorship is not gone – even if this area is much more westernized, even when CNN can be found on the television.
-Holly