Ok.. So now that we know we can post via email.. Here we go!.. pls ignore typing and spelling..want to get this sucker posted.
So Friday we were up at 4am to shower and get off to the airport. We decided to check in at the curb.. oh yea GREAT idea. Security was well security .. not too bad of a line and off we were to our gate for our first leg to Newark. we ate some more breakfast, got a bottle of water and boarded the plane for our 8am flight.
No drama on this flight. We had the bulkhead seats.. which was SWEET! and did some reading. Got to Newark on time and decided to check out the Presidents Club so we'd know were it was for the flight back. NICE..lots of room, they had continental breakfast foods, quiet areas, bar, tv lounge. That'll be perfect for our 4 hours layover on the way home. Also TONS of outlets.. not sure if there is free wifi.. if so we might be able to pull out the laptop and do an update.
So next flight.. on a 777.. BIG plane. No bulkhead seats here.. wish we had them tho! Our flight was delayed on the tarmac becuase of a caution light of some sort. So a maint guy came out climbed underneath reset and verified that nothing was up and off we went.
After like 5hrs.. I was done. I was ready to get off the plane and we weren't even at the halfway point. 13.5hr flight mind you. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't get comfortable. THey had tons of stuff to watch on the headrest monitors. Watched the 2 episodes of Cougar Town they had, other stuff... We had tons of food on this flight. We didn't need to bring the sandwhiches we made at home. So finally after the Beef or Fish (Airplane! fans will appreciate the reference).. there was ice cream and a turkey hotdog snack! Then they turned off the cabin lights and everyone had all the window shades down. This flight was to be in daylight the entire way but they kept the plane dark. tried to sleep somemore..did a bit. Then we watched a few movies.. Got very thirsty drank more and more.. peed more and more. my butt was sort from that sitting. ugh.
They brought up the lights and fed us breakfast 2hrs before landing. all in all I was impressed with the food. it was pretty good! We landed about 15mins early and were ecstatic to be off the plane. It was warm in Beijing.. like at home. The airport is HUGE!! and there was hardly anyone in it! very wierd. Immigration went quick, and we made our way to baggage claim.. Both bags made it!! major whew there.. and then we went thru customs easily and looked for our rep from our agency. Took us about 5mins or so and George took us to the driver and then it took 45-60mins to get to the hotel. Lots of traffic.. nothing like the stuff onthe news but prob the type of stuff we are used ot at home.. but on a Saturday! all the expressways were lined with lots of trees.. it was kinda nice. well at least the one to the airport was.
Got to the Holiday inn.. took a bit to book in and finally was able to get to our room. It's nice, standard Holiday Inn. Bed is pretty comfy and the air runs quietly.. has a smokey "tinge" to it. I mean they smoke everywhere here so that'll be an adjustment. we got the computer up and running.. took a shower. ahh that was nice. Then headed out to get some dinner. George reccommended two places on the way in and they were only a block away. It was the "authentic" chinese rest or the dumpling place. We chose the dumpling place and walked over. We were the "show" as we walked down. Lots of looks at the foreigners. Watched one guy make a very subtle move to check me out. I was impressed it was done well and not creepy at all! gotta see the tall blonde.. ain't many here. So were were the only non-asian in the restaurant and it was a bit of a challenge to order.. but we got some fish dumplings for David and beef for me. Oh man.. DEEELISH. you get a plate of 6 each, then a bowl of broth to drink.. we observed the locals.. and a littel plate to put your stuff on and a little bowl for dipping. THe soysauce was yummy, the Chinese mustard was oh man.. the best we've ever had. we orderd soda water.. oops. something lost in translation there.. I had brought a bottle of water incase.. so that was ok. after the meal.. which ended up being .. total for both of us $8.. we headed back to the hotel.
We were able to chat with my dad on SKype.. which is just well totally cool. Technology is just too cool. So glad to be able to experience some of these nifty things in my lifetime. Was neat to see him with daylight and us with night. it's exactly a 12hr difference. Having problems sleeping. Not sure why.. I mean I was up for 28hrs or something like that.. with just a few catnaps in between! as it's 12:05am Sunday right now.. So ti's noon back home on Saturday.. we lost a day coming over. So here I am posting to the blog & took some benedryl to help me sleep and will try again right after I post.
A few things.. we cannot see our blog from China. Blogger is blocked. So if you post a comment via the blog... we won't see it until we get back home.
So my first impressions of China. looks the same from the air. ;) Not knowing the language is a bit scary I'd have to say. Wish I had made an effort to learn some manderin. Most people are very friendly that we've run into. Have not had anyone talk down to me, well as of yet. Sitting in a restaurant and not being able to understand the other conversations doesn't bother us much. We have that at home in our own restaurants and grocery store for goodness sakes. Just that everyone is speaking Chinese of some sort...not spanish, or french or.. all the other folks who come to Orlando. Can't comment too much as of yet on much else. Haven't really experienced it. Today/later/ we are going to the Temple of Heaven (the REAL one--we have a mini-version at EPCOT.) then the Forbidden City. Won't get to the wall.. we just don't have the time. Monday morning we head to TianJin to see, get Robyn. Man. that could be another reason I can't sleep!!! haha.. ya think! i'm very nervous.. but soo excited all at the same time. I need to relax.. i feel this major need to prep myself for the adjustment. and I should just chill and let things happen.
Well there ya go...I got this out of my noggin.. hoping that'll help me sleep too.. getting this all out of my brain. So here's another attempt at sleep. Will try and update the blog tomorrow night. I think George has us going to an acrobat show in the evening! That should be cool. Oh.. we've already seen a few other American families, i'm assuming, with Chinese daughters. They could be on a return visit to show their girls their home country or here to adopt another. We did not have an opportunity to actually talk to them..I find when you see another American face, there's sort of a "hey" yeah there's someone from home. Each person has either nodded at me or said hello. I need to remember that when we get home, because Robyn will be experiencing that from the other end. Looking for familiar type faces. Maybe we'll go the Chinese restaurant a day or two after getting home.. so she can see a "familiar" face.
Well.. days 1&2 are done. Now for the tour day..and our last day as a party of two. Soon to be a party of three.. and ya know "Three's a magic number".
ZaiJian
~Donna
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