At Chongqing after we disembarked our ship we started our tour of the city. Apparently Chongqing is one of the few cities in China that basically has no bicycles We did notice a great variety of motorcycle enclosed transports and a fast transport structure with nothing running on it. It will open soon and should help the traffic problem. As our bus zigzagged along we passed the remains of several World War II (or the anti-Japanese war as they refer to it) era bomb shelters that had been carved into the hillsides. Now, most have been converted into shops. Our first stop was the People's Center at the Plaza, which includes a theater, art exhibits, and connecting hotel. Very grand it was built shortly after the 1949 revolution. It helps to have someone in power with roots to your community — as we all know. We explored the plaza in the rain and then were awestruck by the interior which holds 9000 people. Adjoining the building we were privileged to attend a demonstration on fresh water pearls and related products and — surprise, surprise — we were given the opportunity to buy.

Continuing our tour we soon arrived at the zoo. Unbelievably, we were alone (except for a few salesgirls (of course) and had the opportunity to photograph to our hearts content a variety of Pandas, including a Red Panda. We also visited a Chinese tiger who had fine living conditions compared to the poor lion whose facilities have not been upgraded as yet. We managed to stop to check out some water fowl and found Crowned Cranes doing what appeared to be a mating dance. Before leaving the zoo we dropped off at the artists' studio for another demonstration of something. Sorry — but its beginning to all run together.

When the time came to leave the zoo grounds we were off to lunch. Rather than continue a tour in the afternoon while waiting for our trip to the airport we decided to take a few hours off and explore a major shopping centre. The big department store was all but empty except for sales staff. You'd dare not stop and look at anything for even a second. "Help" would be at your side. I did manage to price out a camera battery I had recently bought in Canada for $90. It was selling for over $300 and this in the type of store in China where you don't bargain. This may explain why no one was there. A nearby Starbucks (Where we were to meet.) had an internet connection which was free. I think I know why. After 15 minutes the first page of my web site was still not loaded. It was the slowest connection I have seen in a long time.

Then, near disaster struck. Shortly before it was time to go to the airport one of our group went into the department store alone and came out the wrong exit. Trying to go around the block (which wasn't a block she became totally lost. No one including the police could understand English so help seemed impossible, More on this later.

Meanwhile, the rest of us also went into panic mode. We did a lot of people watching with the hope she would be spotted. Our observations included lots of women holding hands (unlike in North America) and lots of entrepreneurial porters.

Time ran out and without finding a trace of our lost one we headed to the airport leaving a tour guide behind to continue the search. Joyously, shortly after we arrived at the airport the lost was found. She had managed to draw a picture of an airplane which led to her getting a cab to the airport. In celebration, after our arrival in Guilin (Leaving the airport we wondered if we had arrived at Vegas East.) we celebrated our happy reunion with a couple of bottles of Great Wall wine at dinner. All's well that ends well.

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