20 - North Shore News —

to rough it
on family
raft trips

TWO new travel packages
available through Travel
Concepts allows families to
experience exhilarating
whitewater rafting without
“roughing it” on shore.

The lower gorge of the
Salmon River in Idaho, with
its white-sand beaches,
steep-walled canyons and
- dozens of class. I and H
rapids, is one of the world’s
best rafting destinations.
Tumbling whitewater alter-
nates with slower, easier
stretches with plenty of
- Opportunity to sit back and
enjoy the scenery and ~
wildlife. Adventurers ride
on six-passenger paddle-
and oar-powered rafts, in
: the company of experienced
. guides, or climb into an _
_ ‘Inflatable kayak for a one-
". on-one river. challenge.
Five-day holidays depart
-. July 23, July 30, August 6
and 20, 2600...

"The wild and scenic
gue River in southwest-.
ern Oregon, is one of the
best river adventures the
West has to offer. ‘Cascading
side streams, slippery cock
slides, fern-hung grottoes,
inviting sandy beaches-and.

secladed coves have earned

it a fairy-tale reputation.
Wildlife abounds and
wacchful rafters may sec
everything from powerful

Osprey to playful otter, from.

lack-tailed deer to wily.”
coyote... maybe even a.
black. bear or cougar in the

distance. The rapids them-- «
another unforget:.

elves are .
table attraction.. With more
than 80 rapids spread over’

ies, the Rogue chal- -"* :

lenges boaters :of all abili-
ties. Inflatable kayaks are

camp is set up and waiting.
It features tents large _
_ €nough to stand up in,
“sleeping cots, dining tables
‘and chairs and sumptuous
evening meals prepared
“while. you relax. You’ll eat
. off china plates in your lux-
_ urious private river camp.
... For more information,
contact the family travel
specialists at either-Travel
Concepts location:
Edgemont Village, North
Vancouver 986-2262 or
17th and Marine Drive in

.2 West Vancouver 926-8511.

yt
7

Friday, March 24, 2000

contrast of

d and new

@ March 11-20, China

Eight of the past 11 days have
been spent exploring China.

First Hong Kong where eastern
and western worlds merge seamlessly
as proved by the bagpipe band which
welcomed us into port. 24 Asian men
in tartan trousers precision marched
on the pier while playing that Celtic
of anthems “The Scortish Soldier”.

Later our sampan was deftly steered

through junks, floating restaurants

and ferries by an ancient woman wearing a coolie hat,
Chicago Bulls sweatshirt and talking into a cell
phone.

Shanghai is a contrast of old and new. Grand art
deco buildings stand beside row housing with every
window sprouting horizontal bamboo poles to dry
the family laundry. As 2 concession to pedestrians
ground level washing is strung parallel to the curb
flapping between wee trunks and electric poles.

Shops abound, crammed with merchandise.
Mannequins are 1950's cra with Caucasian features
and wear the jacket, skirt and pants when showing off
a three-piece ladies suit. Our taxi driver, anticipating
reluctance to our USS, stopped at a bank ATM and

—-a

stocked up on yuan. FE thought this
a great act of kindness but my hus-
band recognized it as an entrepre-
neurial move.

Xingang is the most accessible
port to Besing. The avo-hour
commute was on a modern, well
marked highway which bustled
with commercial traffic as the toll
was 50Y or S6US. Pretty steep for
workers who pay $1 fora haircut
or a carton of local cigarettes.

The countryside was dotted with grimy factories
belching smoke and interspersed with fields tended by
people and the occasional donkey. Below large bill-
boards, mostly advertising cigarettes, sheep grazed
still herded by shepherds. Several teams of people
plant spindly deciducus trees along the highway

Postcards

which will, ] hope, transform today’s dusty grey unin- ©

spiring views within a spring week or two.

In Beijing we drive around Tianfanmen Square
teeming with happy weekenders then visit the only
major reminders of Dynastic China. First the Temple
of Heaven, used just once a year when the kmperor
fasted and prayed for good harvests.

Then the Palace Museum which only foreigners

APRIL 13 - 15 at 8pm and APRIL 16 at2pm i:
QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE |.

still call the Forbidden City as, in keeping with
Communist philusophy, it’s now a place for the peo-
ple even though they do charge a fee and the
entrance ticket is sponsored by Nestle.

Dalian is obviously prosperous. Mercedes and
Lexus cars wry to run vou over versus the hundreds
of bicycles and scooters in our earlier ports. There are
several parks to beautify the city and being ona
peninsula with only about two-million residents, it
boasts that rarest of commodities in China, clean air.

Apparently political savvy and an ice-free port has
won the town special tax aad investment breaks with
which to attract foreign companies. We enjoyed a
more personal view though when we met a
103-year-old grandmother who cheerfully showed
off her deformed feet which had been bound ar the
turn of the last century. Later in nthe day some pre-
schoolers primly performed for us before clustering
around laughing and touching, as fascinated by us as
we were entranced by them. At sailaway we toast to a
litde better understanding and appreciation for a
nation which will clearly wield increasing influence in
all our lives. . .

— Glynis Bolton boarded the Rotterdam Thursday, —
Jan. 6 in Fort Lauderdale on a world cruise. Watch for
her dispatches regularly in the News.

ah

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Send entries to The Sleeping Beauty
Colouring Contest, Ballet British

Cotumbia, 1101 West Broadway,

Name:

Vancouver, BC V6H 1G2. Contest

open to children aged 12 and under.
Entries must be received by 5:00 pin,

Address:

April 7, 2000. Four tickets will

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