Persistent Peddlers

I've been a little skeptical about how pirates in the Gulf of Aiden have been able to overtake huge shipping vessels with little more than a speedboat. However, after our river cruise on a sturdy double deck tour ship down the Li river, my impression has changed.

Tourism is the driving force of the economy in the areas of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region that we visited. No where was that more evident, than as we were floating down the river at a fast clip. The water was high with spring run-off and the current strong. Never-the-less, persistent peddlers, barefoot and tenacious, floated to our boat on their primitive bamboo rafts, tethered them to the side of our boat began hawking jadeite sculptures pulled from thin plastic bags. Gripping with only their bare toes, as the cold river water lapped at their ankles they continued their routine:

"Hello, Hello. Cheaper for you. Looka Looka!"