Welcome to Beijing

Saturday, March 3rd 2007

After a very impressive experience on Dragon Air (okay the name sounds way too chinesey, but how many airlines can you say serve hagaan daaz in economy class?), we arrived to Beijing, China in style. After getting our bags, we exited the main terminal where there were tonnes of tour operators holding signs of names, waiting for a gesture or a wave. With every single person along the barrier gauking at you, it only brought back shades of 'walking down the isle'!!!..damn, too many chinese people staring you down, hoping you're their next guest for the next 10 days. Alas, we couldn't help but notice this huge sign reading; 'Susan, Thom, Steve, ANTINA'. Well atleast they got 50% of our names correct.

After checking in to the Chang An Grand Hotel (now the Days Hotel & Suites), we quickly went for a stroll down the block in the wet, cool weather that none of us had seen for weeks. More deals and it only got better! A 6 pack of Tsingtao Beer for 3.60 cnd!.

For dinner, i was given the task to order. (that tells you how good everyone else's mandarin is!). Never did i ever imagine that knowing how to say beef noodle soup, chicken + noodles, pork ribs and gai-lan would ever come so handy! Hah-hah, thank-you kC for your mentoring! The 4 of us ate for about $10 cnd....lets see how well our stomachs hold out in a few days!