Day 17 - Last Day Cruising & Shanghai

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This is our last day cruising.......very sad

We got up this morning for breakfast and for another shore excursion. We visited the largest hydroelectric power project in the world, The 'Three Gorges Dam'. We learnt a little more about it and went to a couple of great vantage points to see views of the entire Dam. It is massive in size and amazing what they have done. They are also buillding a ship elevator for smaller boats to use which takes only 40 minutes to go through the Three Gorges Dam as opposed to the 5 stage Ship Locks which takes 3-4hrs. The elevator will not be finished until 2015 but sounds a little scary if you ask me as your ship is stuck inside a concrete box under water - scary!!!

We then got back onto the boat, packed our luggage, sat on our balcony for the last time (cry) and had a buffet lunch. It was also sad to say goodbye to the people we had met and they were all so lovely. We exchanged details with the couple, Barb & Clive, from the USA as we are going to exchange some photo's we have of each other and they have a few properties in the states and have offered us accommodation if we ever travel there. We then had to get off the boat which we really didn't want to do as we had the best time on the cruise and really wanted it to go longer. Now all I have to do is take Daniel on one....honeymoon maybe.... 😊

We disembarked in Yichang and had a transfer to the airport. We had some spare time so we went to have a look at the first Dam they built in Yichang, which is a smaller version of the Three Gorges Dam. We were then convinced to go to another silk/embroidery factory. On arrival we were re-united with every westerner from our cruise - what a surprise, haha. This place was good though and the embroidery was amazing. Tam and I both bought a piece for ourselves to keep and headed onto the airport. Our flight was delayed - again but we finally headed off to Shanghai. One thing I have forgotten to mention about the flights is that even in dollar terms, it is expensive to fly internally within China and it seems most people on the flights are first time flyers. No-one has any regard to the rules on flight, and get out of their seats in take-off, landing, turbulence, etc. They all get up, take photo's, change seats randomly and party on in the isles - its crazy but entertaining at the same time. On one flight we took, we had a man sitting near us who proceeded to cut his fingernails one by one onto the floor. The sound was disturbing and to block it out Tam and i stuck our fingers in our ears which was so hilarious as we were coming into land at the time and people around us started copying us and also put their fingers in their ears thinking it would help. No other flight has anyone done this so we have to assume it definity was copying us!!! SOOOOOOOOOO Funny!!! The flight to Shanghai also had it's laughs. When we landed but were still moving, everyone turned on their mobile phones and all we heard for 15 minutes was a chorus of text message and call sounds being received. It was so funny, we couldnt hold back the laughter. Still laughing now thinking about it!!! haha

Once we arrived in Shanghai we got our transfer which was in a new audi to our hotel. It was great driving through the city in the evening, it is such a modern city and so many high rise buildings and heaps more being constructed. We got to our hotel, Renaissance Shanghai Yuyuan Hotel, which we have been looking forward to as its 5 star and looked amazing in the pictures. Lucky for us our room was exactly as the pictures and is the biggest hotel room ever. It's really the size of an apartment - it's awesome! We have a great view of the city as we are on the 16th floor out of 21. We settled in as as it was already late had a late buffet dinner at the hotel. Quite expensive but we needed food really badly. We ate heaps of food, mostly chinese, also had ice-cream, fresh made crepes, handmade pasta from scratch, you choose what you want and they make it all, dumplings.....OMG....just HEAPS. Felt a little sick after as we really did gauge! haha

We then went to try out the swimming pool on the top floor which is made of glass. You can see people swimming through the sides of the pool and it is basically against the glass windows of the building - awesome. Great views from up there. We didnt go in the pool as there was a girl who was doing a million laps so we just went in the spa.

Then back to our room for some much needed sleep in our huge comfy beds!

Goodnight xo

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