Transportation

Generally, we have found that if we book transportation through a travel agent we get unpleasantly surprised. Sometimes the actual bus is quite a bit rougher than the one shown in the picture by the eager agent. Other times, it doesn't leave as expected, or takes forever to get to our destination. We have done better visiting the bus and train stations ourselves to make our reservations. Nonetheless, the Three Gorges trip includes a shuttle to the bus station in Chengdu, then the long distance bus to Chonquin, then a shuttle to the dock, then booking the actual ferry, and then a bus from the destination dock on to the next city. With that many steps, we were too likely to have one or more steps take too long or not have seats, and get stranded. So we crossed our fingers and bought a full package from the travel agent at the Traffic Hotel in Chengdu. We looked at the pictures, and even had them call the ferry to confirm the actual facilities on the ferry leaving the day that we would go.

The surprises started immediately. The 7:30 AM shuttle bus was late. And while we explicitly asked if the long distance bus leaves from the new bus station in the SE of the city (that's where the faster luxury buses are), and the agent said yes, the shuttle took us off to the north, stopped in the parking lot of another hotel, and ushered us off the bus. The driver spoke no English, and he sped away. Other westerners were also getting dropped there and we congregated together to see what was next. Soon, a private bus arrived to take us to Chonquin. Not as fast as promised, but it was comfortable and even had a TV screen with English language movies!

The next surprise was at the ferry dock. The first clue was when the guide was quite concerned that one couple had booked first class (out of the five classes). We stood on the dock looking at quite a variety of boats while he ran around frenetically. Finally he came back happy, and told the first class travelers to head off toward a particular boat. Then he led us back up the hill. After crossing through the mud we headed off toward an area of much less attractive boats. Some were just barges. Some didn't look seaworthy.

The pictures of the boat had a nice dining room with white linens. The actual boat had a tiny room with about six tables covered with plastic. The phone call had reported that second class cabins had private bathrooms. On the actual boat, these had disappeared. The picture of the boat had a nice deck on top for viewing the gorge. The actual boat just had a roof.

Maybe we have become a bit jaded, but we weren't put off. We knew to discount whatever the travel agents say. All in all, the bus got us here and it isn't a bad boat. We came to have a couple of days on the river, and see the Gorges, not for a luxury cruise. We're happy.

We even had time in Chonquin to get a new digital camera. Unfortunately, our Nikon 800 quit working in Thailand and we lost two weeks of pictures before getting it repaired in Chiang Mai. It died again in Dali, so we didn't get any pictures of the Tiger Leaping Gorge, Jiuzhaigou, or other places for the past couple of weeks. We haven't found a competent repair shop, so did some research on the internet while in Chengdu to get a replacement. Armed with specs on twenty cameras (and US street prices) we were able to find a great camera shop in Chonquin and get a new Nikon 775 for just $25 above US street prices. I guess we will ship the other one back to the states to get it repaired and then sell it?