People in China are absolutely fascinated by construction projects. This can range from a newshopping centre to simply a man knocking down a wall with a lump hammer. Whatever it is, it is sure to attract a crowd. I've seen a group of 100+ stare at a JCB digging a hole for well over an hour. People come and go, but as long as there is one person looking, more will join in.

I would like to have stayed longer to have had a wander around. I'd read about Fuling in a book called 'River Town' by Peter Hassler.His story whilst spending 2 years as an English teacher there in 1997. I'd read about the porters, about the good food, about the old section that would soon be flooded by the rising river. Next time perhaps.

In the morning I had an interview with a local paper. It was quite difficult to explain why and what I was doing. I may have come across as quite negative, but I was asked what I thought was difficult when I travel, so I told her. I can be quite direct and say what I think. Sometimes this may upset people, but that's just how it is, or how I see it anyway. You can take it or leave it.

I headed off late assuming that the roads would be fast. I was after all approaching one of the biggest cities in the world, so the roads had to be good right?

Wrong. You don't get many bicycles in this area, so I was relegated to an oldback road, whilst the new modern fast cars of China sped their way along the new expressways.