Were up at 6 to leave the freezing hostel and made our way to Chengdu station for the train to Chongquing where we were planning to do a Yangzi river cruise. After 5 hours journey through the countryside we arrived in busy Chongquing. We had read that there was no budget accomodation in Chongquing (what a shame), and after trying to find a cheapish hotel our angry taxi driver unceremoniously dumped us infront of the marriott hotel. Momentary debate in the marble lobby whether we could afford the 25 pounds each a night for the 5 star hotel with swimming pool, before checking in and being taken to our amazing room with a bathroom bigger than the rooms we had been sleeping in, and so WARM! 2 beds, dressing gowns, bath and shower...happiness.

Brief feeling of guilt and then headed out to Chongquing city for a wander. Another great city that we like as much as Chengdu. Wandered through amazing bird and flower market where they were selling bullfrogs in buckets and a little old chinese woman was getting me to take pictures of her frogs and then madly laughing. We headed into the bright lights of the city and did a bit of shopping, emma picked up a bright pink ski jacket, so i need not worry that i will lose her.

Shattered from long day travelling so back to hotel for swim and warm beds. Princess backpackers, but knew we would be on a boat for next couple of days so making most of it!

The next day started out so well and we headed off to buy our boat tickets. We thought we were being extra cautious by looking at a couple of different ticket offices, and eventually settled on a boat that looked beautiful and were told we would have our own room and the picture of the room with gorgeous bunkbeds and nice bathroom was reassuring. For 600 yuan each plus 200 for the little boat tour it was cheaper than the boat that our hotel could book, but still not cheap, but as we would be on it for 4 days, thought we had better be a bit cautious.

Went back to Chongquing to pick up our backpacks and then back to the boat place to get our tickets and board the boat in the evening. We were met at the ticket office and our backpacks were given to a little 80 year old man who tied them to a stick and slung them over his shoulder. Feeling terrible as we struggle to carry them ourselves and this grandad was carrying them both, we tried time and time again to take them off him, but he kept running on and wouldn't listen.

Both feeling really nervous about what to expect we followed him down steps cut into the cliff onto the jetty. Nerves disappearing as we heard a steel band playing and people lined up to welcome us aboard a huge amazing 5 deck cruise ship.

Our little old man didn't pause for breath after scaling the cliff, and marched us determinedly straight past the beautiful boat and onto only what can be described as a fishing trawler. No steel band welcomed us. He took us to our room. The pictures had lied. There was a man inside the room trying to fix the toilet as we went in, he walked out shrugging his shoulders 'no work'. The door to the room wouldn't shut properly, outside the door was a little handrail and then the sea. If it rained, there was not a chance that we would stay dry, and rain is forecast for 2 weeks. Am not exaggerating that they were piping the theme tune to Titanic inside the room.

On the way we had decided between us that we would give the little old man 20 yuan as we felt so bad about him having to carry our bags (a taxi would have cost us 5). I tried to give him the 20 thinking him would refuse. He demanded 100. Robbed by an 80 year old. We took our backpacks off him, put them on our backs and ran off the boat before it could leave, and ran back up the cliff that we had just scaled. Could still hear the steel band from the beautiful other boat and the titanic theme tune from ours as we were chased up the cliff by the angry boat people.

I cant bring myself to explain how i got our money back off the boat people. It may have involved me at one point stamping my foot and shouting 'this is not a nice boat', it took over an hour of shouting but eventually got most of our money back.

Checked into a hotel. Possibilty hotel was a brothel. Much needed beer at end of day possibly was in strip club. Wont elaborate as emmas grandparents are reading this (hi jenny and jim-sorry!).

All in all- an interesting and enlightening day in China.