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Published: April 5th 2011
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A scandal has erupted and I am at the centre of it all. Chifley, my bethrothed from Australia, has competition!!! I have always promised fidelity to the one who stole my heart but this was all quite by accident. I would never intentionally hurt the one I loved but sometimes Fate has a funny way of intervening in your life and knocking all the dishes off the table. I know that you've "heard it all before" but this is a special case...I am ready to "dip my toe" into the world of adultery!!!
Chengdu, in the heart of the province of Sichuan, is one of the special economic zones in Mainland China. A population of 14 million people (and three Starbucks noted in my trails!) and is famous for many things...the spicy Sezchuan food that we all know and love and more importantly, the home of the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Centre. Little did I realize that I would end up in my own "spicy" romp! It's one thing to see those adorable large teddy bears in pictures and quite something else to see them up close and personal. The grounds are surrounded by bamboo trees, their primary
diet and once they have gorged upon these green delicacies, they frolic and then snooze to their hearts content. Quite sad when we remember that there are only about 1000 left as the centre works frantically to save them from extinction. Nearly 40 years of clear cutting trees in China has destroyed their natural habitat. The spring months ironically enough, are the time when mating CAN occur but it is not always successful which grieves scientists as their numbers continue to dwindle.
Mating season is never a good sign when one is travelling alone.
My "fling" was not planned.
I chanced upon the opportunity to hold one of these creatures and when he was placed in my lap and became quite playful and cuddly...well...my heart was quite smitten with excitement! I don't even know his name but when you completely abandon yourself to emotions, as Shakespeare once said, "What's in a name?" Our future is uncertain at the moment and fortunately I am given much time to weigh my decision properly. Who to choose?...one love, who is completely docile and submissive...who doesn't excite or make my heart race but who is steadfast in his devotion...or the other...who
is wily and playful, has a lust for life unknown to mankind and has dark mysterious eyes that suggest danger and torrid encounters? Dear reader, this entire trip was not a quest for love and here I find myself torn in a very dirty and sullied triangle.
Fortunately, I have had time to further explore this country before I make any hasty decisions. On my last evening in Chengdu, I went to a performance of the Sichuan Opera Theatre. There was some opera, a short comedy, classical music performances using traditional Chinese instruments such as the double violin, an eerie puppeteer and an astonishing performance by a shadow puppet master. All of these arts are centuries old and passed on to each new generation. The evening finale involved a group of people who were able to change their masks AND costumes in the blink of an eye. It was pure magic and very exciting and crossed all language barriers...anyone who can take their clothes on and off that quickly cannot be too bad in my books!
Trains and planes and automobiles later, I found myself sailing down the legendary Yangtze River. I remember once flying over China many
years ago, and seeing its serpentine shape high up in the clouds and now suddenly, it was within my reach. Dreams really do come true sometimes. Of course, the journey here was fraught with difficulties. We were set to arrive at our cruise ship at approximately 8:00 p.m. but the bus continued to break down on the highway. Of course, everyone gathered around the engine to offer their opinion to the bewildered driver on how to repair the fan belt. For some apparent reason, the repairs included a loud, clanging hammer. The domestic tourists were quite unabashed about using the roadside for a toilet as the driver continued to find innovative ways to repair the bus. The smell of rubber burning on the bus as we continued the journey was somewhat disconcerting as was the sudden appearance of a police officer. To add insult to injury, the driver proceeded to get lost and fortunately a nearby taxi driver led him to our final destination point at the port...at ONE O'CLOCK in the morning! The ship itself was quite nice if not somewhat dated...a cross between an old hooker and a grand old lady with flowery perfume.
The specific area
we focussed on was an area known as the "Three Gorges" and we sailed down the third largest river in the world (6, 148 km long!...the largest in Asia!) to view spectacular scenery...dramatic cliffs, pastoral farms and the odd pagoda perched high looking down upon the travellers. This particular stretch of the river is quite contraversial because of the notorious "Three Gorges Dam" that was constructed and completed in 2009. The dam was built to prevent the annual flooding that was said to have caused thousands upon thousands of deaths and destruction to the local villages. This massive dam resulted in the relocation of nearly a million people and we were privy to see a city, "Wushan" that had been totally reconstructed at a much higher elevation. Only the Chinese, inventors of kites, firecrackers and the Great Wall itself could have undertaken such a monumental task! Environmentalists still protest the destruction it has generated and some of the older villagers are bitter about seeing their lives displaced. Many homes and villages are now submerged and serve as underwater "museums" of a world never to be seen again. The dam itself generates an incredible amount of hydro-electricity for the ever-growing population
of a billion-plus people.
And now, we fly off to Shanghai...the economic wonder of China, the legendary home of opium dens and beautiful women named, "Lily". A time to reflect on past transgressions...and perhaps the place to produce new ones...
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Jude
non-member comment
Panda-Monium!!!
What a lovely story!! I love the pics very much, especially with you and the cuddly Panda Bear, I could almost feel what it felt like if that makes any sense. What a great feeling, I could just feel that lil bear awwwwe The history is amazing, the boat trip, it is all so amazing & very educational. I learned so much from your blogs. How can these preciouse Panda Bears be saved, they are dwindling down so quickly??? Anyway I'm off to bed, have been home a couple of days virus, nothing to worry about. ttyl luv jude