10th February, 2001
Activities On Barges And Canal Embankment, Suzhou To Wuxi: Children Without Life Jackets. Spare Time Of Off Duty Barge People. Workers On Road Move Goods By Handcarts
August, 1987
 The activities on the boats and barges were fascinating and as we passed each other, each barge seemed to bring something new to observe. The barge people who were off-duty seized the opportunity to finish some knitting; some were eating lunch, some were sleeping, and whenever we waved our greetings to them, they always responded with a smile and
 a wave
themselves, no one could be more friendlier, despite our different life styles. Even though there was no sunshine for most of our canal journey, it was still very warm under an overcast sky, but in the colder winter months, the working conditions of the barge men must be less tolerable, and indeed more dangerous. By law, all children on the barges were supposed to be wearing lifejackets, but there appeared little evidence of this law being enforced. Perhaps they were all good swimmers; the barge children we saw were certainly happy !
 As we approached Wuxi there was more activity, the embankment road was busy as people went about their daily business, attending to daily chores or to their stalls, and goods were transported by handcarts.
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