A weathered but beautiful Nepalese woman greeted us upon arrival. Her hands were dirty and callused from an obvious hard day in vertical layered fields she plowed into mountainside. Her eyes were deep, dark, and told a long tale without her saying a word. She warmly smiled at our tired expressions and showed us to where we would spend night. Her children played and curiously popped their heads in and out of doorway to our room. Playfully they would yell "Namaste" then run away excited for us to respond. They were so content in their world, far away from noise and chaos of city; bare feet and torn clothes, but not a care in world. To them happiness was really within and not in circumstance.

After a warm meal I was

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By Joanna Niebler - Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent - at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

Ritz Tours offers a combined experience of visiting interesting cities of Beijing and Shanghai with Yangtze River Cruise, which is reasonably priced and very well organized.

Ritz Tours has a guide that stays with group for entire trip, including on cruise, and has a local guide in addition at each city. This is extremely important for visitors to China because most of population does not speak English and it is difficult to obtain directions from locals.

The Yangtze River flows through eight provinces and has more than 700 tributary rivers. It is longest river in China and third longest in world, traveling more than 3,900 miles.

Victoria Cruises, an American cruise line in China, has four cruise ships sailing up and down Yangtze River.

The downstream itinerary is most popular. It departs from Chongqing to Yichang. The cruise takes passengers through Three Gorges shiplocks and offers a complimentary shore excursion on a smaller vessel through Lesser Three Gorges which were formed about 70 million years ago. These Gorges, formed by earth movements into sea, create spectacular scenery dotted by perpendicular cliffs and curves in gorges.

The breathtaking Three Gorges, Qutang, Wuxia and Ziling, will probably disappear when Three Gorges Dam Project is completed in 2008. The 28-mile Wu Gorge is most beautiful. It is lined by many picturesque peaks and valleys. Even though water level of Yangtze is being slowly raised in a massive effort to subdue annual floodwaters that devastate river valley, Gorges are a spectacular sight. Two million people who live along Yangtze River will have to be relocated when dam is completed.

Ship locks on Yangtze River.

The Dam Project has been taken on by Chinese government to improve shipping, prevent flooding, and provide hydroelectric power to China ’s interior.

The downstream cruise also includes a visit to The Three Gorges Dam Project which provides an in-depth look at this modern technological structure.

Going through ship locks is an unforgettable, unique experience of Yangtze River cruise. Unlike Panama Canal, ships go through locks on their own power. The raising of ship as it goes through locks is quite dramatic because ship is just four stories high allowing for great visuals and picture taking.9. More scenery on cruise

Three Gorges scenery.

The scenery of Three Gorges and going through locks is more than worth price of cruise, but Victoria Cruises also gives passengers fine dining and entertainment.

The ship offers a variety of cuisine. There was a daily breakfast and lunch buffet that included American items such as waffles, a pizza and a salad bar, in addition to traditional Chinese cuisine.

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By Phyllis Steinberg - Visit Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com