Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

Waiting to board
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August 22, 2006

Instead of taking a direct flight from Toronto to Beijing, I decided to go via Vancouver and take a couple of days stopover in Vancouver to catch up with some family and friends.  Details of that segment are on another blog and i'll add link soon.

As I pushed my way through the enormous revolving doors - that same pang of hypocrisy returned to taunt me

The flight from Vancouver to Beijing was a punishing 11 hours and 40 minutes.  We actually got lucky in that there were two empty seats behind us.  So missy took our two seats and i took the two seats behind us and we both managed to get some shut eye during the flight.  When we were not sleeping (or eating the many meals provided to us on the flight), Missy watched some films on her portable dvd player (a present from her Dad) and I zipped through the paperback (The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly) that I had picked up at the airport in Vancouver. It was a fast and entertaining read - a perfect choice for the long flight.

Prime Hotel, Beijing
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We finally arrived in Beijing and our body clock was already playing havoc with us.  It was 4 pm local time in Beijing and 1 am in Vancouver and 4 am in Toronto (where we had been only two days ago).  I think our system was completely messed up.

We picked up our bags, cleared customs and it all went without a hitch.  I found everyone (airport officials and staff) to be extremely polite and friendly.  As we gathered our bags and made our way to the exit - i was thrilled (and simultaneously disappointed) to see a very familiar sight - a STARBUCKS!!  Thrilled because I knew a hot cup of steaming latte was not too far and disappointed because, i dunno, i suppose the first world snob or elitist in me expects or wishes developing countries to retain their rural charm and splendour which tourists like me can capture on film and bring back.  It wasn't a thought that made me too proud and so I quickly dismissed it as I pushed the luggage trolley very purposefully towards the exit doors and prepared myself to embrace Beijing!

Grammar faux pas in an Air Canada washroom. Such "gabbage" should not be excused! ;)
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We were greeted at the door by our driver (Mr. Mi) and our tour guide (whose chinese name I can't pronounce but his english name is Hawk) who quickly ushered us to our car - a nice limo complete with white linen seat covers and air-conditioning on full blast.  We drove through the busy, bustling metropolis in quiet comfort.  Around us we saw pedestrians, cyclists, and an assortment of locals - traveling, constructing, or just going about their day in the sweltering heat (it was a dry and hot 28C in Beijing).  Our hotel soon came into view - a large white building with chinese roof, a lobby that glinted with marble flooring and had the usual trappings of such an establishment -  a water fountain and a pianist.  There were several restaurants and bars scattered in the sprawling lobby and as I pushed my way through the enormous revolving doors - that same pang of hypocrisy returned to taunt me - my attempt to "experience" China - albeit without straying too far from the comfort of a nice car and a fancy hotel.

Once we checked in, we ate a bit and then made plans to see Hawk the next morning at 9 am.  We then went up to our room where we relaxed a bit before heading to the pool to cool off.  After the swim and the hot shower that followed it - Missy and I both slipped into oblivion awaking at at the unusually odd hour of 5 am!!!

More in the next entry... :)