If you're interested, here's my blog. It's not yet complete, so check back for more posts.

Travel Blog

Hmm, odd. I sent you a reply yesterday, but it seems to have gotten lost.

Anyway, I have really enjoyed reading your blog so far, and am looking forward to the next installments.

Sue

Thank you Sue! It's fun for me to remember the trip, so I'm glad others are enjoying it as well.

Not only do I enjoy the description of your travels, but your comments about food.

Paul tells people that I remember every meal we ever had on our travels. Food is such an important part of any culture.

Sue

Loved reading your blog. Not sure if its added or removed China from my wish list! How did you find the actual cruise? The ship itself? Just too many people? You make no mention of this. Our TV in UK is currently plagued by advertisements for Viking Cruises and wondering if this is a good way to visit places at some stage? Don't like huge numbers though..... Thanks for your blog.

We have been on 3 Viking cruises, but not China. We highly recommend them. If I recall correctly, China is their largest boat. Although they have been adding "longboats" to their fleet that are larger than the boats we were on.

Viking takes very good care of their passengers.

Sue

We enjoyed the actual cruise, and the ship, although some in our group did not. The ship is much smaller than an ocean cruise ship, ours had only 256 passengers, and we didn't feel cramped or crowded at all on the ship. (I don't like huge numbers either.)

China is very crowded in general, and there will be huge crowds of people everywhere you go, as my pictures show. Would I go again? No. Am I glad I had the experience? Yes. And I think the Viking cruise was the best way to see China, since the country is so huge.

Thanks for your insight. China not high on my to visit list any way. Useful to know about it being so busy. I suppose there are only certain places/things they want you to visit, like Russia. It is the river cruising that is of interest and I hate the idea of huge ships. 256 passengers is more than enough. Where is your next destination?

I think we're going to stay in the US for a while, other than our annual trip to St. Maarten in November.

If you are going to stay in the USA have a look at this blog...she loves food & goes to some interesting places....."come with me Vicki h - travellerspoint "....how she & her husband stay so slim is beyond me......kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

we almost went on the cruise about 10 years ago, I got hung up on what happens if you get sick, neither the travel agent and her manager in another city could answer that, nor could the viking rep on the west coast where I sent an e mail.
Do you have an answer?
What causes the smoggy look? My daughter in law went to china (2 large cities) last month and all her pix were showing bad air pollution

The smog is caused by industry, cars, and the need to provide electricity for over a billion people. Most of their electricity is generated by coal, which is plentiful there. The country is in the process of replacing a lot of that coal-generated power with cleaner hydro-electricity, but that will take time. The pollution is very bad; my eyes burned and my throat was scratchy the entire time we were there.

I'm not sure what you're asking about getting sick. We had travel insurance which would have paid to get us home if we were so ill that we couldn't continue on the trip. The ship does have a doctor, and of course, there are doctors in the cities. All of the guides speak excellent English, so I'm sure if there were a medical need they would assist you.

Great blog, Kate! Thanks for sharing!!

Are we done.........or........taking a rest.......
kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

Sorry Kate. No we're not done....life has gotten in the way and I'm having motivation issues. More to come....

Thanks.....as a lover of sewing and silk & linen me tinks I would still be in that silk market......kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

Oh, you would have loved it Kate!

This is another travel blog that I really enjoy another young couple that love to eat & travel.....found these 2 blogs a few years ago because of Anguilla & have been following....I am sure all of them must work out & starve themselves between adventures....."Escape from New York Tracey's Travels" that is one Travellerspoint as well.....
Thanks for taking the time to post your travels thru China....kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Kate! I'm glad you enjoyed my journal.