Monday, 7 March 2005

Back from Beijing!

Had the best time in Bejing! It was really suprising! I think the city broke every expectation I had had of the country and people.

The flight from Narita had a bit of a rough start with turbulence that was rocking the plane so much that I could see the city lights below us out of the SIDE windows. Almost 90 degree angles here. Stress inducing as Hell. But after the first 45 minutes it calmed down and the flight was only about 3 hours so I was able to enjoy a movie (Sideways, definitly 5 stars!) right before we landed in Bejing.

There couldn't have been a more beautiful landing in China; it was snowing and we had fireworks going off all around us. For a second I actually thought that the fireworks were just for us, but then I remembered that tonight was a special lantern festival. But it was still amazing.

Following my Lonely Planet guidebook I reserved a hotel from a desk at the airport and was amazed how cheap it was! Got myself a 4 star hotel for about US$40 a night! Also paid for a car to drive me to my hotel. Something that I found pretty refreshing was the three girls at the airport hotel booking desk were yelling at each other from across the airport, relaxing behind the desk and not going out of their way to fake politness. It was GREAT! I really appreciate honesty after spending so long in a country where everyone acts "polite" because they think they should rather than because they want to.