Yangtze River trip‏

Dear Family,

We just returned from our delightful trip down the Yangtze River and I believe it was the best tour we have been on!
On April 1, at 5:00 p.m. we left for the airport to fly to Chongqing ( pronounced: Chong ching)
We arrived in Chongqing around midnight and went to a very quaint hotel, which we loved and wish that we could have stayed there longer!
The morning of April 2, we went on bus to tour the city of Chongqing. We visited the 3 gorges museum, the Great Hall and Stillwell museum.
That evening we boarded the American cruise ship "Victoria". Note: the staff on board the ship were all Chinese!
It was a VERY eventful trip to the cruise ship - we climbed down some of the most frightening steps I have walked in China.... It was starting
to rain and the walkway to the ship was all muddy and the path was very uneven and scarey.

The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and the 3rd longest in the world. Between the towns of Fengjie and Yichang lie 3 great gorges - Qutang,
Wu and Xiling. These gorges have some of the most spectacular scenery in all of China.
Of the 3 gorges, the Qutang Gorge is magnificent and precipitous, the Wu Gorge is deep and beautiful and the Xiling Gorge has rapids and many rocks.
There are 3 mini gorges and the water in the 3 mini gorges is clean and the banks are blanketed in trees, historical sites and legends.

Early the morning of April 2, we started on our journey down the Yangtze. In the afternoon we visited Fengdu - the Ghost City and it was really
something to see. We saw many forms of torture - in statues. We took many photos and will send them as soon as we download them. We even saw the
statue of the drunkard and had to take photo of him - he was frightening! There were statues of nature, a"fallen" woman, a lustful man and many others.
Very interesting. However, the tram ride up to the Ghost City was the most frightening.... Supposedly this Ghost City is where all the evil spirits reside and
they are supposed to remain there eternally. Included in the city - which sits on top of a mountain - is a replica depicting the awful ways the Chinese tortured
those among them who sinned in any way. Example: they supposedly cut a persons tongue out if he was a liar. A thief had his fingers cut off. Anything you can imagine was done to the sinner. Ghost City is also supposedly the pathway to the "underworld". It is the Chinese way of expressing the atrocities of Hell. And, I must
say, it was frightening.... Sure am glad I believe what I believe about life after death or this would have really scared me!
That evening, after returning to the ship, we had a welcome dinner hosted by the Captain of the ship.

April 3 we were on the river for the entire day and really had a great time visiting with the other BYU teachers and resting!

On the morning of April 4 we docked at the Daning River - at the 3 mini gorges, for our excursion into the gorge area in a Chinese motorized "sampan". It was so
neat - a real authentic Chinese experience and we all loved it. Many photos of that!
Then back to the ship and more evening entertainment. I met a darling young man "Lucas" who reminded me of my beloved "Nick" at SUU. Lucas was a
real highlight of the trip - he is such a dancer and waiter - all in one. I taught him how to wink and everytime he got on the stage to perform, he searched for me,
in the audience and smiled and winked at me.. So cute, so innocent. He also waited on our table everytime we ate and was so attentive.
Also, on Friday, April 3 - we entered the 5 grades or "locks" where the ship is lowered from the reservoir level, to the river, on the "down stream" side of the Yangtze.
It was a phenomenonal experience, one we will never forget.

April 5 we left the ship to visit the large dam site - 3 Gorges Dam. Then we went on a 5 hour bus trip to Wuhan to take an afternoon flight back to Qingdao.

While on the ship, there was a medical Doctor who was very proficient in acpuncture, acupressure, electrolysis and "cupping". Roger had 2 treatment and I had one.
He really knows how to cure people and we both feel much better. Roger, with his pinched disc and me with my ever present, neck pain. We both believe in the
art of acpuncture and have been very impressed with the results. However, Roger was having his treatment and the Dr. hooked him "up" to the electrolysis machine,
and his foot started to "thump" - just like the dog does when you scratch him in a good spot. We REALLY had a good laugh at that!

The time is passing very fast - it is already Easter this week! We love what we are doing and the time seems to fly. The weather has turned so beautiful and the signs of
Spring are everywhere we look. There are buds blossoming everywhere we turn. Before we know it, we will be back in Utah for a short time. We still aren't sure when
we will fly home, but we will let you know as soon as we know anything.
Easter brings some very tender memories. I remember the Easter we had in Vernal, when the electricity went out for the day and we had to eat the Easter eggs, potato
salad, baked beans, jello and ham by candle light! I also think of the many picnic with all of you. The year we went with Grandma Pearl and Aunt Mary Dean and Uncle
Keith to Beaver Dam to look at our property. We always seem to end up on Easter, with the Jones'.... Remember the year when Lesa and Darren and the kids came to
Cedar and there was snow on the back lawn - but we STILL had our Easter egg hunt?
These are treasured memories for us and we will be thinking of you as we celebrate the resurrection of the Savior. What a memorable occasion Easter is for us. We will
be missing everyone..

All our love,
Dad and Mom