Beijing, here we are!! Day 1



our first close up view of Beijing

Although we're home already, i wrote a journal in preparation for keying into my blog, our trip was so exciting and fascinating but also very frustrating:
we couldn't buy internet data so we had to use the hotel wifi system which had blocked many of the sites i use to build our business brands, very frustrating. the good side of this is that i've started a journal and will work on keeping this up, i found it to be a very enjoyable and relaxing way to spend some quiet time!


smoggy view from our hotel room

so pretending i'm just on my way, here goes:
i'm quite fearful of the long flight, i've never been in a plane for longer than 4 hours. fortunately, it is an uneventful flight, they've given us an 'eye patch', i'm a little cold but i must sleep more than i realise as i feel quite rested on our arrival into Hong Kong.


built-in gloves

We have a 3 hour stopover so we stay at the airport, there's not much to see due to the smog. HK is a HUGE airport, so many planes, so many stores, no real coffee!
Again, an uneventful flight to Beijing, about 3 hours, i'm relieved.
looking out the window, i can see how vast Beijing is, i'm amazed by the uniformity of the buildings below, skyscrapers and others all lined up, same design, same colours ... oh dear ... annoyed i can't take pics!!


an electrician's dream or nightmare?

Beijing Airport arrivals is bland, ugly and purely functional. no attempt has been made to beautify. we clear customs quickly and, surprisingly, we're on our way, i guess i've read too many novels lol!!
we find a counter selling what we think is international sim cards but the attendants don't understand us, they have no english at all, we're not up with the play on the exchange rates enough yet and decide that if we're going to spend more than necessary it will be at the airport! there'll be loads of cell phone stores in town.
we discover we've been ripped off by the taxi driver Y168 for usual Y70 trip, the guys are furious. Once settled in our rooms, we zip out for a stroll and get our bearings, the pollution is intense. none of the local businesses appear open, i guess Monday is the quiet day.
we enjoy a light dinner in the hotel dining room and head off to bed for an early start tomorrow.

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