Shanghai, China

I'll start where my last update left off with my last post...this might get a little long... :)


Tuesday night Amy and I went out for a traditional Chinese foot masage...but before we got there Amy made me try some weird food from a street vendor.  She's been bugging me about trying new stuff since I got here, so I went for it tonight.  She wouldn't tell me what it was, just laughed and laughed when I ate it.  But it was fine! (I probably wouldn't be saying that if I knew what I ate, but I don't want to know anymore.)

So anyways, we kept walking through the madness (sea of Asians, remember!?)  and the 'foot massage' turned out to be a neck, back, leg AND foot massage.  I attached a couple pictures...it was amazing...an hour long and super cheap.  I think I would go ther every day if I lived here...SO worth it!  My feet have never hurt so bad in my life...I've been walking all over this city in heels for a week and a half!

After the massage, we went to a Japanese restaurant and - you guessed it - ate plenty of raw fish.  It was a really fancy, trendy place and Amy knew the owner, so as soon as we walked in, he brought us over a big glass jar of sake (which might as well be called grain alcohol) and we had to drink.  No water in this place...it's either hot tea or sake.  I don't ever drink...I dont' even remember the last time I did...so you can image how well that went over.  So as I was trying my best to choke down shrimp head and ox tongue and whatever the hell else I ate - I had to hold my breath and wash it down with sake - a lot of it. 

NOT a good night...I realy am surprised I didn't throw up.  Seriously.  I honestly thought I was going to but somehow held it all down!  The only good part was dessert, which was som sort of rice cake smothered in warm peanut butter.  I pretty much live of pb&j in the US so I was VERY excited to have that again!  The worst part was, I had to stagger back to the office after that and finish up some stuff for work...I was at the office until 11:30pm.  Definitly passed out at my hotel that night!! ;)


Up early on Wednesday  morning for more meetings with my boss.  Amy and I snuck out for a nice lunch at a really fancy Italian restaurant and then went back to the office to work.  Some time in the evening, I realized I was starting to get sick.  My throat started hurting and my head was acheing and I started sneezing...NOT good.  It seems like I never get sick unless I'm traveling.  And how convenient that I am getting sick since I have VACATION next week.  Of course...


So I skipped the horse races that night and sat at the office and worked...not feeling any better.  I went to a little pharmacy place and bought some vitamins because I couldn't find any medicine in English that I thought would do me any good.  I grabbed some food at one of those little dives on the street that had a picture menu (not sure what I ate though) and went back to my hotel.  Ran a fever all night, but surprisingly felt a LITTLE bit better Thursday morning.  I took some more vitamins and ate a good breakfast and went in to work.  Amy gave me some medicine...not sure what it was but she thought it would do the trick...and I think it did.  We went to a little cafe for lunch and I had a big glass of fresh-squeezed watermelon juice and a grilled ham and cheese sandwhich.  SO good to have American food after my little Japanese experience... :)  We dropped off one of my suitcases at DHL to ship back to the states (I have so much stuff I can't even carry it all) and went back to the office for a couple of hours of work. 


I had to leave around 2pm to pack up ALL the rest of my stuff and check out of my hotel to make it to the airport.  I could barely carry what I had left, but made it down to get a taxi.  There was one waiting...but he just looked at me and didn't open his door.  He rolled down his window and I said, "Can you take me to the airport?"...he just shook his head no and kept sitting there.  What the hell??  Come on...why wouldn't he take me?  I guess the airport is about 30-45 minutes away...but still!  So I just stood there...next to an empty taxi...already late...and waited.  Finally another one came.  Two guys got out who didn't speak very good English but there obviously were NOT happy...they were trying to tell me to not get in with him, but couldn't explain why in English, and I had to go...I was late and didn't want to miss my flight.  So I hopped in, told him I needed to go to the Regal Airport Hotel.  I wasn't sure he understood (didn't speak English of course) so I had to call Amy AGAIN and have her tell him where to take me.  I was watching the meter the whole time to make sure he didn't try to screw me over...because I thought maybe that's what he did to the guys in front of me.  About 40 minutes later, we got to the airport...and I could SEE the hotel...but he didn't know how to actualy get me there.  I was getting so mad.  We drove completely around the airport and ended up back where we started...10 minutes later.  He stopped TWICE to ask directions...and I finally just leaned forward and started POINTING where he needed to go.  I really need to laern Cantonese if I'm going to live here...


So we finally pull up at the front of the hotel.  Thank GOD I just looked at the meter and saw it was 323.60 HKD.  I looked down to get my cash and when I looked back up the guy had cleared the meter.  He turned around a looked at me all surprised and shrugged his sholders and pointed to the meter...and said, "500."  WHAT!?  I said NO...I just looked at the meter!  It said 323.60 and handed him 400 HKD.  Well he wouldn't give me any change...he just folded up the money and put it in his pocket and looked at my like he wanted more.  Oh I was SO pissed off at this point...already running behind and dealing with this idiot trying to rip me off!  So I get the concierge guy over...NOT getting out of the taxi yet...and we both start yelling at him.  The driver in Cantonese...me in English and he is trying to figure out what is going on - seriously.  I'm over getting ripped off. :) So he tells me the driver wants more money because he had to pay the toll.  I said we only stopped at ONE toll and he handed the guy two coins...which could not have been more than 20 HKD (10HKD is the biggest coin they have).  So we're still arguing...I said I wanted change he said he wanted more money.  FINE...I don't care anymore...I'm going to miss my flight and I can't deal with this...just give me a freaking receipt so I can get reimbursed.  Nope...no receipt...he cleared the meter.  AAHHH!  Fine...I tell the concierge guy to get my luggage out of the trunk before I step out of the car for fear that this jerk is giong to drive off.  He gets it out, I get out and slame the door and YELL at the people waiting in line for a taxi, "DON'T GET IN WITH THIS GUY...HE SUCKS!" Yep - I did it. :)  And the concerige guy relayed my message in Cantonese...probably not in those exact words...but no one would get it in with him and he just drove off.  Hahaha - SUCKER!  That's what you GET! :)


So I dropped off my luggage at the airport hotel since I only need one little bag for Shanghai...I was only going to be there for like 24 hours.  RAN to check in for my flight.  I figured I could just look for the longest line and that would be my airline knowing my luck.  And SURE ENOUGH...one LONG line for Dragon Air and hardly any line for any other one.  Of course...haha...I actually laughed out loud at this one.  I asked a lady if I had to wait in that line if I wasn't checking in any luggage, and she directed me to a different area...two people in front of me!  YES!  Thank goodness I traveled light for ONCE!  I grabbed some ice cream for dinner (healthy, I know) and waited in line to get through the immigration/customs line.  Didn't take too long and made it to my gate with about 10 minutes to spare. 


And here is where the fun starts...


I get on the plane and sit down in my window seat next to an Asian guy (of course).  He said "hello" and I said, "Oh!  You speak English?!".  Yes, he spoke fluent English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.  I pulled out my little neck pillow thing I bought in the airport...they are GREAT for flying.  So I put it behind my head, wrapped around my neck.  And the tag for it was kind of sticking up.  I don't know why, but I've always hated tags.  I pull them off of clothes and everything.  So I just reached up and ripped it off.  And out came ALL of the 10 million little white foam ball things that are inside.  No way...that did NOT just happen to me.  So know I'm sitting there...with this pillow around my neck, and tiny white balls pouring out everywhere...in my hair, on my face, down, ny shirt, on my pants, between my toes, in my purse, all over the floor and on the poor guy next to me.  Those things went EVERY where...and they stick, too.  I don't know what they are made of, but they don't just brush off.  So I started laughing...seriuosly...what else could you do at this point...and that made them blow around even more.  So I grab the pillow and try and hold the little part that is ripped together.  The guy next to me asked the flight attendant for a sewing kit and she brought one over.  What am I going to do with that?  Not like I actually know how to sew anything...despite my mom trying to teach me 10 thousand times.  So we sit there and look at it trying to decide what to do.  He took it from me (he's got them ALL over him now too) and tried to hold it shut.  Remember, thousands more of these things pour out every time you move it a centimeter - I'm not even really exaggerating!  Okay - there is no way we're going to be able to sew it.  I took it back...feeling really bad now that we are BOTH covered in this shit.  He got up and grabbed a trash bag and we just threw it in.  We sit back down, look at each other covered in little white balls, and just start laughing.  Wow...that was fun!  ;)  Well we couldn't get up to try and clean up because we were taking off...so we just sat there.  I think I had at least 200 hundred between each toe in my flip-flops...felt terrible.  So we made it through the 2 hour flight and talked a little.  His name was Gabriel, he'd been married for two years, has a 15 month old baby boy...really nice guy.  He told me where to shop and what to see in Shanghai, etc.  And told me that my purse was not safe for Shanghai and to hold on to it tight.  It doesn't have a zipper, only one snap, and as I had it on, he stuck two fingers in and showed me how easy it was to grab my passport in the side pocket...hmmm...maybe I should be a little more careful with that thing...


So we landed in Shanghai.  Amazing city of lights...kind of like flying in to LAX really...we just flew over city forever.  We just sat there on the plane for awhile...not sure what was going on.  They finally brought over one of those little car thingies with stairs and we had to walk down and get on a bus to take us to the terminal.  Once we stepped off the plan, he turned and smiled and said, "Welcome to Shanghai"...then he turned to everyone else and said loudly..."this is the snowman!".  Haha...it was SO funny.  Then he sang the little, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..." jingle.  Wow...pretty embarrasing because I was still covered in that crap and so was my backpack and purse.  :)

Now it's on to the challenge of another Chinese airport.  But THIS TIME, the flight attendants passed out all thee of the sheets I needed to fill out to get through the lines.  I don't know why they didn't on my flight to Beijing...would have made that trip a lot easier!!  So one of the sheets was a "health questionairre" and you had to check the box if you had a fever, running nose, headache, sneezing, etc.  Hmmm...I told the guy I was sick and asked him what to do.  He said definitly DON'T check any of those boxes because they will quarantine and wait for a doctor to look at me and won't let me in if I'm sick.  WOW.  Okay, so I didn't check any of the boxes and that was the first line we went through.  He walked behind me and said, "Just hand it to them and keep going."  That's exactly wht I did...kind of freaking out at the possibility of getting "quarantined" at an airport in China...but nothing happened.  On to the next line, where we went separate ways since I'm a 'foreigner' and he's a Chinese citizen.  He gave me his phone number and told me to call if I was lost of needed anything and off we went.  I made it through the rest of the lines, got cash from an ATM and headed outside.


Immediately, some guy in a suit said (in very good English) do you need a taxi?  I said yes and handed him my piece of paper that Amy wrote with the address of my hotel.  It is in Jin Mao Tower, which is the tallest building in China and very well known by everyone in Shanghai...it's like the Sears Tower or the World Trade Center in the states.  No problem, he said...follow me.  Whoa...how much?  He told me he'd have me there in 30 minutes (which I knew was a lie) for 500 RMB.  NO WAY.  I took my paper back and said I was told I could get a taxi for around 150 RMB.  He pointed me to another line.  So off I went, and another guy walked up to me.  He asked me if I needed a taxi (again, in pretty good English).  I said yes and showed him my paper.  I didn't really know what was going on at this point.  He said oh yes follow me.  Hold on...where are we going.  He pointed to the line that said "TAXI" where everyone was and said they don't take you to the city, you need to come with me.  Hmmm...hold on...how much.  300 RMB.  What?  No...I told him the same thing...I was told I should be able to get a taxi for 150 RMB.  What is going on??  So he says fine, 200 RMB.  Now we're negotiating for a taxi?  What happened to a meter?  He puts his hand on my back and says, this way.  Come with me.  I'm walking and talking and said how do I know you aren't just going to charge me more when we get there?  he said no, 200 RMB.  Whatever...it's late and I just want a taxi.  So he hands a set of keys to another guy and says follow him...and he's still wakling behind me.  Okay - freaking out a little bit...but stuipd me keeps follwoing him.  THEN we go into a parking garage...hold on...I stop...how much farther?  He points ahead.  Where are we going?  To the taxi.  But this isn't a taxi...that taxis are out on the street?  Why is it in here?  Good Lord Terri...what are you doing walking in a parking garage with two guys at night?  The one in front with the keys keeps looking back at the other guy and he keeps smiling and pointing ahead saying "Yes, this way please."  We get to a REALLY shitty little old taxi (that is probably stolen or something) and he opens the door.  NO WAY.  That's what I said.  No, I just want a taxi from the street.  I don't know what this is or where you are going to take me.  He is still standing behind me, blocking my way.  No, 200 RMB we take you to hotel.  Please, get in.  NO...I just want a taxi up there.  So I walked past him and kept going...him yelling at him the whole time.  Wow...how stupid am I??  Seriously...I don't know what I was thining.  I walked VERY briskly back up the stairs and got in the line for the regular taxi...I guess.  I've found out that getting through the airport, finding a cab, and making it to your destintion is half the fun of traveling in foreign countries.  It really was pretty funny...the fact that I even followed them as far as I did...might not have been funny if I got in though...who knows where i would've ended up or how much money I would've had to shell out.  So I got in a taxi - the guy from the airplane told me to get in a gold or turquoise one, this one was dark blue but oh well.  At least it was a taxi on the street and the airport official guy ushered me in it.  So I handed him my sheet and he shook his head yes and we were gone.  I called Amy on the way and she told me, "Terri!!  You are such a dumb-ass!!"  Haha...I know, I know...I'll learn one of these days to not be so naive and trusting.  I swear, it's going to be a miracle if I make it out of Asia alive!


It took almost an hour to get to the hotel.  And when we pulled up, the concierge wouldn't even come open the door for me.  Apparently I was NOT in a good taxi.  Haha...oh well...he got me there, charged me around 175 RMB, and gave me the correct change.  So I get out and there is a line of people waiting for a taxi and one guy tries to get in mine.  The concierge actually STOPPED him from getting in and shook his head no.  LOL...must have been a bad guy I was with!!  I think they only take like legitamate NICE taxi services or somthing.  And mine was probably just some rando guy - hahaha... :)


So I go to check in and they girl tells me something about how I got upgraded to a suite free of charge...I couldn't really udnerstnad why but honestly didn't care!  I get up to my room and it is HUGE...I mean like the size of my house!  (Okay - maybe not quite that big...but it was HUGE).  Three flat screen TV's a massive bathroom...amazing views.  WOW...this is living the life!!  Haha...I took some pictures of my room and the view from the floor to ceiling windows all the way around.  Not bad...not bad at all! ;)

 Went to bed (in my king size bed with big fluffy pillows), got up this morning (Friday) and ordered room service (love this job and all the perks!).  Scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, fruit plate, orange juice.  Mmmmm...good food and I'm feeling better.  I took a few more pictures of my sweet hotel room and the views it has of The Bund in Shanghai!

 Turns out this is one of the nicest hotels in Shanghai!! :)  I'm down on the internet at the hotel right now and am off for some shopping/exploring the city of Shanghai after I finish up some work stuff.  I have a meeting at 2pm this afternoon and then it's back to the airport, back to HK, and off to Vietnam first thing in the morning!  I don't know what my internet access will be next week, but I'll try and write if I get the chance.


Hope all is well with everyone!  I'm excited for vacation, but can't wait to get back to the normalcy of the US on the 29th!!

-TK

Still in Hong Kong...

First, I have to start with a correction to what I honestly thought was the 'lesbian festival' on Sunday.  Amy informed me that that is where ALL of the maids in Hong Kong go on Sunday.  Everyone here has a maid, and they get one day off - Sunday.  So they ALL go to the park and eat/hang out/whatever.  She said they are all "just very friendly" - and that it's not uncommon for them to hold hands and be very affectionate.  I still kind of think otherwise, but whatever...apparently they were all just maids.  But it made for an interesting story, right??  Haha...sorry to disappoint all the guys who thought that was just great!!  ;)

SO - anyways - I found some food Sunday night.  A menu that had ENGLISH on it, too.  So I ordered sweet and sour pork and it was REALLY good.  They must have known how sick of eating with chopsticks I am...they brought me a FORK!  I was SO excited. 

Got up early on Monday and went to meet my boss at his AMAZING hotel -- just a small step up from my Holiday Inn Express!  Our driver wasn't scheduled to show up until 9am, but that wasn't early enough for my boss.  He wanted a car NOW -- which was 7:45am.  So I got a car from the hotel and we set off to look at schools and apartments.  (At least we didn't have to deal with that TERRIBLE driver who honestly didn't even know how to drive a car!)  He is planning on moving his family over here next August for a year - and I go where he goes...so we found some nice smaller apartments where I could stay, too.  All in the really nice part of HK of course (Repulse Bay)! :)

After that, we had some meetings and a very uneventful day.  Got to bed at a decent time for once and got up early this morning (Tuesday) to head back to his hotel for more meetings all morning.  Back to the office this afternoon to catch up on some work and am still here.  Amy and I are going to get a traditional Chinese foot/leg massage tonight and then going out for some sushi.  I've been dreading this night (the food) since I got here...I am NOT a fan of raw fish AT ALL, but promised Amy I would go with her to a sushi bar once while I was here...we'll see how it goes...there's a good chance I'm going to throw up tonight! ;)

Had a change of plans:  I was supposed to leave on my vacation to Hanoi, Vietnam on Friday afternoon.  But after one of our meetings today, it was decided that I would fly to Shanghai to meet with them again and see there office on Friday.  But of course all of the flights out of HK are booked for Friday morning so I have to fly out late Thursday night.  Can't wait for another night time traveling experience in a big crazy city in China by myself...sure it will be a GREAT time again.  Hopefully I can get all of those stupid forms filled out at the airport right the first time...

I'm planning on flying back to HK Friday night and hopefully catching the first flight Saturday morning to Hanoi.  Ruins my whole plan for that day, as I was planning on taking a day cruise to Halong Bay, but oh well.  I think I can just go on Sunday instead. 

So that's all for now...nothing too exciting.  I'm sure I'll have some good stories from Shanghai though!  I'll try and stay out of the dark allies with guys I don't know...haha...

-TK

Back in Hong Kong

(This one will be shorter...I promise)

After a late night at the office on Friday, I got up and did it all over again.  Came in to the office Saturday morning and was here pretty much all day.  I walked across the street for some McDonalds for lunch (chicken mcnuggets and an ice cream sundae) and worked until around 7 or 8pm.  Went out on the town to find some dinner...on my own...which isn't easy.  I walked around for quite awhile...looking in little shops and street vendors (bought a pair of jeans and capris for around $11).  I finally found a tiny little restaurant that had a picture menu and went it.  I pointed to some white rice, and to something that looked like beef and vegetables and sat down.  Not exactly sure what it was, but I ate it with my little chop-sticks (I'm NEVER eating with chop sticks again after this trip) and tried to choke down some tea.  There is pretty much NO water over here.  EVERYONE just drinks tea.   You know how when you sit down at a restaurant in the states, they bring you water?  Well it's the same over here...jus hot tea.  One time I asked for water...and they brought me HOT water in a tea pot.  So then I asked for ice...and they brought me a wine glass full of ice...so funny...they just don't get it...

After I ate, I walked around some more and went back to my hotel for the night.  Got up early on Sunday, ate breakfast (same thing every day in the cafe at my hotel) and, you guessed it, came back to the office.  I found the K-State vs Colorado game online and listened to that as I worked on planning out my itinerary for trip to Vietnam and Thailand.  Once the game was over (THEY WON!!), I went out on the town again in search of some lunch.  I walked to a new area, and couldn't find anything that looked edible, so I went back to the same little cafe I went the first morning I got here...at least they spoke English and had good food.  Got a fruit smoothy and a good 'ole ham and cheese sandwich!  Kept on walking after that and ended up at Victoria Park, a beautiful Park right across the street from the boats/bay.  To my surprise, it was FLOODED with Asian women.  I couldn't figure out what was going on...I mean literally it was THOUSANDS of women...no men or children.  Nothing really clicked...I just kept walking around and taking pictures.  Then  it all hit me at once...when one girl smiled really big at me and said "hello" and I started looking around and saw three or four 'couples' in a row holding hands or with there arms around each other, etc. ... I was at some sort of ridiculously large lesbain festival.  NOT joking.  I snapped a coule pictures but they just don't do it justice.  There were seriously thousands (not hudreds) of girls all over this park...just lining the walkways and grassy areas.  I still don't know what exactly it was, but it was obviously a HUGE event.  Haha...how lucky of me to stumble upon THAT!  ;)

So I decided it would be best if I got out of there, and kept walking the streets of Hong Kong.  Somehow I managed to find my way back to my hotel and decided to lay down for 15 minutes...hmmm...woke up two hours later.  Walked to a different area around Times Square once I got up and bought some cute dress shoes for $6...I only brought my black ones and need some beige ones for a couple of my outfits for next week. :)

Came back up to the office after I got tired of walking around, and started working on my itinerary again.  I just found out that the infamous "Full Moon Party" on Ko Phangan just happens to be on the Friday that I am in Thailand.  So of course I changed everything around so I could go there for that...and of course since I'm so late in booking things, all the flights from Phuket are full.  I booked a flight to a neighboring island and am planning on taking an overnight ferry to Ko Samui ... long story short, it's not going to easy or fun to get there, but hopefully it will be worth it to see the biggest party in Thailand!!

So that's it...much shorter than last time!  It's almost 9pm here so I'm going to try and find some food again (yeah, right) and head back to my hotel for the night.  My boss arrives tomorrow morning and Amy and I am going to look at all the apartments again with him in the afternoon.  This week will probably be pretty uneventful with him here (I will be attending lots of business meetings with him and other co-workers) but then it's off to Vietnam for some FUN on Friday!!  :)

-TK

Beijing, China

Sorry it's been so long since my last update -- now this is going to be super long because I have to cover THREE days!!  :)


I'll try and start where I left off...Tuesday night in Hong Kong...and see what I can remember...

Well I was at the office late Tuesday night - Amy had to leave early that day - and I didn't end up going out by myself for dinner.  Actually I don't think I ate at all.  I got off the conference call around 10:30pm and went to my hotel and crashed.  Got up the next morning, had breakfast at my hotel (by myself this time) and came in to the office again.  Worked for awhile, and Amy and I decided we were hungry.  So out we went...found a little bakery and I just had some bread - everything else looked weird or I couldn't pronounce it. :) 

Amy's flight to Beijing was earlier than mine and she was meeting her husband at the airport for lunch, so she had to leave late-morning.  Well the only suitcase I have is a HUGE one that I have to check in.  I really didn't want to check a bag in for my day and a half trip to Beijing, so Amy said she would walk with me to a store to buy a smaller one, but then she had to get to the airport.  So we took off walking...VERY fast - this girl walks faster than me...and I was trying to take mental pictures of all the turns so I didn't get lost on the way back.  It was only about a 10 minute walk to the little store...Amy told me to "bargain" with them and ask for a discount.  I said why, and she said, "Just do it!  That's just what you do here!" and took off down the street for the airport.  Hmmm...so here I am in this store on the street that sells luggage...and the guy doesn't speak English at all and the girl working spoke very limited English.  No big deal...I'm getting used to it at this point! :)  So I find a suitcase I like (red and purple and has four wheels so it rolls all directions).  I point to it, tell the girl I want it, and she goes to get a new one.  When she comes back I ask "how much" and she tells me...I don't even remember.  I instantly shook my head no and said "discount".  Much to my surprise, she shook her head yes and said, "yes, discount for you."  Haha...I love this place.  So I bought the suitcase (ridiculously cheap) and made it back to my hotel just fine...I think I'm getting used to this place and all the busy streets. :) 


But now I'm hungry...and not up to fighting the streets again and trying to figure out what I want to eat and what I don't.  Good thing there's a Pizza Hut in my hotel...how bad can that be right?  Oh it can be bad...I looked at the menu and all the pizza was crazy...corn and crab meet and gross stuff...but the lasagna looks safe, so that's what I order.  10 minutes later, I'm headed back to the office with my Pizza Hut to eat and work for awhile before leaving for the airport.  So I open the lasagna and it looks like several layers of noodles with a very little amount of tomato sauce or something like that on the top layer only.  Okay...whatever...I'll try it.  Turns out it wasn't really noodles...not sure what it was.  Kind of like mashed potatoes maybe??  Definitely NOT pasta.  Whatever it was, it wasn't good...and the meat sauce on top was not regular meat sauce.  SO...I'm thinking I'll just skip lunch today... :)


My flight for Beijing was at 5pm, so Amy said I should leave the office around 2, take a taxi to the train station, and take the train to the airport because it is cheaper than a taxi the whole way.  Right...I can figure this out.  So at 2pm, I head downstairs and hardly have to wait for at taxi at all.  Of coursre, this guy doesn't speak much English...but I'm prepared!  I had Amy right down "Central Station" in Cantonese for me, so I just handed him the sheet.  He shook his head yes and I was there in 15 minutes or so.  Now I just have to figure out the train station...   Found the little kiosk to buy tickets, put in 100HKD, got my ticket, and made it to the train just in time to see it leave, of course.  Good news is they come every 10 minutesI found out!  So I got on the next one and got off at the airport about 30 minutes later after several stops.  Checked in for my flight (no line) and then find out it is delayed...of course.  So now I have three hours to wait in the HK airport.  BUT the HK airport is also a MALL...it is the COOLEST airport ever!  I shopped the entire time...bought some ice cream, a HK shirt, and probably some other junk I didn't need...and eventually head to my gate to wait for the flight. 


Again, I'm prety sure I was he ONLY non-Asian on the flight - I mean this was HK to Beijing, not alot of Americans doing that one I guess.  And it was a FULL flight, again.  To make matters worse, I am in the VERY last row of the plane, so not ony is there less leg room in front, but your seat doesn't recline either...I hate that spot!  That's what I get for not checking in early on-line I guess!!  Shortly in to the filght, they served dinner.  The flight attendant asked me what I wanted...a choice of two things...neither of which I could understand at all.  So I just said "the first one" and opened it up.  NO IDEA what it was...honestly.  But I was so hungry by this time I didn't care...just started eating, and surprisingly, it wasn't bad!!  :) 


Three hours later, I arrive in Beijing.  It's already dark out so I got to see all the lights flying in...it was a HUGE airport!  There was stuff about the Olympics absolutely EVEYWHERE in the airport (and later to find out in all of Beijing).  Got off the plane and waited in line to go through the first little security gate.  They gave me one sheet on the plane to fill out - like a customs form or whatever - so I just hand it to the guy when I got to him.  He says no and hands it back.  And holds up a different sheet he needs.  I just shook my head no, and he pointed to a table behind me.  OF COURSE I have to fight my way back through the line and fill out some stupid health form.  Name, DOB, passport, nationality and a couple of questios like, "Have you been in contact with chickens in the past xx days?" and "have you been in contact with someone who has the flu or pneomonia?" or something like that.  Now who is honestly going to answer yes to any of the questions, knowing that you wont' get in to the country if you do.  SO stuipd...but I fill it out, wait in line again, and then the guy DOESN'T EVEN LOOK at the form.  Just throws it in his pile and ushers me through...UGH!  Okay - NEXT line - oh yes...SAME FREAKING THING!  I get to the front, hand the guy the sheet from the airplane...nope...points to a different stand with forms on it and back I go.  I'm thinking NO WAY -- did this just happen again?  How in the world am i supposed to know to fill out every single form I see?  Okay - so I fill out the form...same info: name, dob, passport #, nationality, and asked like two questions on what you are brining in to the country.  Back in line i go...get to the front and pass through.  Okay - THIRD line...FINALLY this is the line that needs the form from the airplane.  I hand it to him, and again, he doesn't even glance at it or at me...just keeps ushering people through.  Honestly...what is the point of filling all the crap out if no one looks at it? 


I was SO frustrated at this point...but at least I'm past all the lines and immigration and customs and security...  Found an ATM relativly quickly, got some RMB (China's currency) and go out to find a taxi.  NO WAY - there are AT LEAST 200 people waiting in line for a taxi.  About 30 minutes later...I finally get one.  The guy sure doesn't look like he speaks any English...so I finally get my first chance to try out my Mandarin! :)  I said ni hao (hello) and he smiled and said it back...knowing that I didn't really speak mandarin.  But I keep going..."ni hao ma?" (how are you?" -- no idea what he said back, but he was smiling...waiting for what else I had. :)  So I said...in my best over-pronunciated mandarin "Wo sure me guoren" (I am an American!)...haha...that got him to laughing...as if he didn't already know that I was an American.  So he's having fun now and so am I...so I start counting for him...holding up my fingers as I go...ee, ar, san...all the way up to six (which is all I can remember).  The guy is cracking up...waiting for what else I'm going to do.  But I just shrugged my sholders and shook my head...dui boo chi.  boo hao (I'm sorry...no good)..."That's all I've got".  He looked a little disappointed. ;)  I had already handed him the sheet of paper Amy wrote for me that said Shangri La China World Hotel and had the address.  The guy started asking me questions in mandarin!!  Hello...he obviously knows I don't know what he's saying...so I have to call Amy and get her on the phone to tell him where to go.  THANK GOODNESS FOR AMY!  Traffic wasn't too bad and about 30 minutes later, the driver turns around and points to a huge building...China World Hotel.  He pulled up and I asked "how much."  It was like $6 USD...SO cheap.  So I gave him a dollar extra (even though Amy said you don't really tip here) and he LAUGHED!  So i gave him another one...thinking he didn't think it was enough or something (Amy later told me it was probably because he was happy and not used to tips.)  I said "shia shia.  xia jian" (thank you.  goodbye) and the guy says "bye bye"  Haha...it was pretty funny.  I wonder how much English he knew...punk!


So I walk in to this place in my capris and flip flops that I've had on all day...and everyone is in suit and tie and evening dresses...no joke.  I've NEVER felt so out of place in my life!  I guess Amy forgot to mention that we were staying in one of the nicest hotels in Beijing.  Here are a couple of pictures of the entrance to the hotel.

I snuck up to my room, trying not to be seen by anyone (I had already missed dinner with the group since my flight was delayed) and crashed in my huge king size bed! :)  Up at 6:30 to shower and be ready for breakfast with everyone at 7:30.  We met in the cafe at the hotel and they had everything imaginable.  I had some pancakes, scrambled egss, toast, cereal, fruit...SO good to have American food again!  They had evey kind of juice, too.  I had watermelon juice...it's my new favorite!! :)  Then it was off to the first meeting of the day. 

Traffic was INSANE -- took us almost an hour to go not very far.  Beijing is going to have to make some serious changes before they are ready for the Olympics next year!  We were late to out meeting - and it lasted almost three hours!  Then they ordered pizza for us...of course it was the crazy pizza like Pizza Hut in HK had.  I have no idea what was on it...I had one little piece and called it good...thinking I would grab something back at the hotel.  Fight traffic all the way back and already missed the second meeting.  So I hear about this place called the "silk market" close by and decide to go shop for an hour or so with Amy before she leaves for HK.  We were told it was "two blocks" down the street, so we take off walking.  About 7 blocks into it, I talk her in to asking someone on the street where it is.  They pointed in the same direction we were walking, so we kept going.  Stopped and asked AGAIN a few blocks later...this was a LOT farther than "two blocks."  FINALLY - about a mile down the road, we find the Silk Market.  Now THIS is a shoppers paradise: a HUGE building - probably a city block long - with six floors.  And what did they have?  Well...anything "made in China"...which, let's face it, is pretty much EVERYTHING!  It was jam packed - wall to wall - with people and clothes, watches, sunglasses, coats, shoes, purses, luggage, electronics ... seriously...EVERYTHING!  And we had less than an hour to shop!  Well I hit the watches first...of course. :)  I bought FOUR watches.  I think I got them all for under $20 USD so that's okay right?? :)   Also picked up a really cute black Max Mara black jacket for about $25 USD.  Now when we first walked in, I saw all the coats and ski gear...so on the way out, we hit one of those places.  So of course I picked out an entire Spyder ski outfit...red pants and a red/white/light blue jakcet...and the negotiating started!  Amy said the rule of thumb is this:  if they offer you 1 item for 10 RMB...you want to get them down to 2 items for 5 RMB.  So they started out at like 1200 RMB for this outfit and we got them down to 300 and wouldn't go any lower.  The girl was actually pretty pissed, but Amy said we had to walk away and make them go lower.  I didn't have that much cash left anyways, so I had to find an ATM and Amy had to leave.  She told me to go back if I really wanted it, but to get them down to 280 RMB.  So I found an ATM and went back.  The girl looked me right in the eye (remembering who I was) and said "You want to buy, I take 300 - NO LESS!"  I could tell she wasn't budging...she had already put the outfit away.  So I whipped out my 300 RMB and handed it over...so much for my negotiating!!  It was worth it though...$40 USD for that!?  :) I could have spent ALL day in there...but I had to get back to the hotel and get some food. 


Once I got back, it hit me that this was my only day in Beijing!  I really wanted to see the Forbidden City and Tianamen Square before I left...so I hopped in a cab and took off, armed with a card from the hotel to get me back.  Didn't take too long to get there...maybe 20 minutes, but it was 3:50pm and I ws told the Forbidden City closes at 4pm.  So the cab driver drops me off a ways away from the entrance.  I threw some money at him and took off running...literally...for the gate where all the people are.  This guy on a little motorcyle with a cart on the back pulls up and starts hollering at me to get in...he said "FOUR MINUTE!!"  As in they close in four minutes.  Yeah...I knew that...so I say - still running - how much?  He says 10! 10!  Get in!  Fine...it was a ways away and I knew I only had minutes to buy my ticket, so he stopped and I jumped in the back...I REALLY wish I would've taken a picture of the little contraption, but I didn't have time.  He said "THREE MINUTE!"  And I hollered, "I KNOW...GO!!"  He laughed, charged his arm forward like Super Man, and said "GO!" and took off.  It was SO funny.  Took a minute or so to get there - I probably could have ran just as fast - and I handed him 20 RMB...not wanting to fumble through my money for a 10 (which by the way, is about 1.30 USD).  He tries to KEEP the 20!!  JERK!  I literally grabbed it back from his hand because he wasn't going to give me change, and said, "NO!  10!" so I had to go through my cash, find a 10 and run to by a ticket.  The girl gave me a ticket and said "Hurry!  Only one minute!".  So I turned around and RAN to the huge gate, which was already about 3/4 closed and they were just letting people out.  I was really thinking they probably just sold me a ticket to go in and I'm going to get kicked out in 30 seconds...but it was my only chance.  Well I got in, and to my surprise, there were other people in there walking around too!  (Turns out they just stop letting pople in at 4 and don't kick you out until 6.)  The place was amazing...just HUGE...it went on forever.  Every time I'd walk through a gate thinking it had to be the end, and it was just another huge square.  I don't know much of the history on it, but am definitely going to have to read up on it now...it was pretty cool! 

After an hour and a half, I finally make it to the end - clear across the other side which is a couple of miles.  This next picture is across the street for the entrance, and the one after that is the water surrounding the walls of the city - like a mote!
 

Well I was pretty tired of walking at this point, and wanted to take another little motorcycle ride back to the other side (which is off the main street that my hotel happens to be on, too).  Some guy comes up to me asking me if I want a cyclo ride or something like that...and I ask how much...and I think he wanted 50 RMB or something like that...too much I thought.  But he grabbed my arm and said come...this next picture is what he tried to put me in for 50 RMB!! 

NO WAY.  I may be a crazy America, but I'm not THAT crazy! ;)  I said NO and turned around...him walking behind me trying to get me to change my mind.  Then ANOTHER guy comes up and says, "Come with me...I have cheaper" with a big 'ole toothless grin.  Whatever...I don't really care at this point and started walking with this old guy.  He was pretty nice and spoke a little bit of English.  I practiced my mandarin on him and he taught me a few more words...we were just talking and walking...and before I knew it we were a LONG ways away from the front of the entrance where everyone else was.  Shit...I'm thinking...as we turn down a little ally off the main road.  Okay Terri...is this not what everyone told you exactly NOT to do?  Don't go off the beaten path with anyone...don't go down any dark allies?  Pretty sure I just did both!  Well I was actually starting to get a little nervous as we turned AGAIN down ANOTHER little ally...but just around the corner was this old rickety bike with a little seat on the back.  I feel a little bit of relief...still wondering what I was doing walkng with this guy in a hutong (that's what these little shanty areas where the poor people live are called turns out.)  But I get on...and have someone walking by take a picture...

Notice the alley where I ended up...yeah...probably NOT a really not a good idea to be there.  My boss' wife said I "flunked day one" in HK by getting in the cab with than random guy...I'm going to say I flunked day one in Beijing as well. :)  BUT it turned out to be just fine - good even!  This guy was awesome.  I have to admit I was a little worried the entire time, because we didn't go on the main roads at all.  He took me around the side roads and pointed everything out along the way and gave me some history on the area.  This picture is of a government home a few blocks from the Forbidden city...notice the four stars at the top of the door...this was the home of a four star general in the army.  That's how you knew what ranking the people had that lived in the government houses. 

The sad thing was, just next door to the "government housing" there was poverty.  This was literally the house NEXT DOOR. 

He said the government took all the nice houses and cars and left everyone else with nothing...it really was pitiful to see how they lived.  So this guy just kept riding and riding...showing me all the little shops and things on the streets...it was the coolest thing ever (not smart, I know, but it turned out to be really good).  He finally took me to the front of Tianamen square and stopped.  I gave him 100 RMB (about $13 USD) and he was SO happy...I'm pretty sure that's a LOT of money for him. :)

I noticed some commotion aruond the front of Tienamen Square and decided to go check it out.  Everyone was just lined up in front waiting for something.  Eventually, the army marched out, crossed the street, and changed a flag or something.  I'm not really sure what it was, but it was apparently a big deal.  Here are the pics from that...

Once that was over, I wanted to walk through the square a little more before heading back to the hotel...here's where I went wrong.  I got in the square, walked around, nothing special, and decided to walk out the exit on the side and find my way back to the front - rather than just turning around and going back to the front where I knew.  The sun was setting and it was starting to get cool...and I was starting to get hungry.  I snapped a couple of good pictures form the outside as I was walking away.

Somehwere along the line, I got turned around.  I still don't know how...I really thought I knew where I was.  And I'm usually pretty good with directions and being able to figure out which way I need to go...but not here, not this time.  I walked and walked and walked...trying to find that main street again.  It's getting dark...and it's cold...and I'm walking the streets of Beijing alone(okay, definitely flunked this day).  All of the construction workers are getting off work now and lining the streets..ALL OVER.  And as soon as a bus pulls up they all run and jump on and pack as many people as physically possible into the bus...even as the doors are shutting and the bus is driving away, they are still trying to hang on...it was crazy.  So I'm still walking...turns out I walked in a giant circle for almost an hour...seriously.  So it's dark now, I'm a little lost, and still cold in my flip flops.  I pull out my map of Beijing and put it in front of a security guard and point to the road I am looking for.  He looks at the map for a couple seconds, turns it around, and points straight ahead.  Okay - that's good - except that is NOT the way I thought it was.  So I keep walking...and walking...and walking.  About 20 minutes of me race-walking through the crowded side streets (these aren't big well-lit safe streets either) I see big stop lights and lots of cars...FINALLY...the main street.  Now I just have to find a taxi.  And I see one right away, at the stoplight.  I run in front of the stopped cars and knock on his window...and he shakes his head no and waves me away!!  What the .. ?  Come on!!  I run back across the street, not knowing why he wouldn't take me...and keep walking.  Yes...still walking...probably for another 30 minutes I bet.  I have no idea how far I've gone or how much farther my hotel is.  I walked in the tunnell under the street to get to the other side where it looks like there are more taxis.  Still no taxi...they are all taken.  STILl walking...it's after 8pm now and dark.  I finally find a nice hotel and just walk up to the concierge guys outside and hand them my hotel card.  He kind of gave me a weird look and walked off.  He came back a couple of minutes later with a taxi...I wanted to just give him a big hug...but I gave him some cash instead.  The driver took my hotel card and took off.  I bet I walked half way back to my hotel...it wasn't really all that much farther in the taxi...another 4 or 5 minutes maybe.  So I made it back...after a somewhat nerve-racking evening in Beijing...and didn't have time to get ready to go to dinner with everyone.  All I wanted was some ice cream anyways - so I set out...on foot...again.  I saw a Baskin Robbins a ways back...not sure how far...but decide to try and find it.  (I never learn huh!?)  I walked past the silk market again and decided to look again real quick for some art work for the office in KC.  Got a little side tracked and ended up buying 2 Prada bags.  I know...I'm terrible.  I found some art work for the office too though...and got the girl WAY down on price and decided to try and get out of that mad house.  Everyone was going crazy because it was getting close to closing time (10pm).  They all yell at you as you walk by...I mean ALL of them.  "Hey lady...you come look...come look for free..good deal for you!"  and grab your arm.  I just ignored them and keep walking like everyone else...if you even pause to glance at something they suck you in!  But this one girl literally grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go and physically pulled me in her little booth.  I wasn't scared or anything...she was just a young girl, but she had a pretty firm grip on my arm, and wanted to sell me another purse.  I showed her that I had just bought two and didn't need anymore.  We went on and one and back and forth for a good five minues.  She was SO pushy and would NOT let me out of her area.  She basically started begging me...and I told her I didn't have any more money...which was not a lie.   I showed her my wallet...alll I had was 100HKD for the train in Hong Kong the next day, and some change.  US coins, Mexican pesos and British pounds...maybe a few dollars all together.  And she took it!  Haha...she said she would take my change for the bag.  LOL...it was so funny...I almost felt bad for her!  But whatever...I took the bag for a little bit of spare change and finally made it out of the building.  I was so tired of walking, and still hungry, so I decided to just go the McDonalds across the street.  I went in and ordered...and then noticed I didn't see a credit card machine.  So I asked, "Do you take credit cards?"  Of course the guy didn't understand me...so he asked the girl nex to him.  I repeated the question and held up my credit card.  She said "cash only".  Great...well of course I don't have any cash to eat on...I just spent every last cent I had (literally) on knock-off Prada bags.  Genious.  Right...okay...well I don't have cash so cancel that order.  I walk next door to KFC...I hate that place, but getting pretty hungry.  Same story...cash only.  Okay - a few blocks down there is a Haggen Daas...finally some ice cream...and finally a place that takes credit cards!  I pointed to strawberry cheesecake, held up two fingers and said "ar" for two and pointed to a cup.  Got it...two scoops of ice cream for dinner.  Wow...what a day!

Back to the hotel and pack my bags for the next morning.  My flight was at 8am, so I had to leave by 5am.  Set my alarm for 4:45 am and went to sleep.  I woke up at 4am for some reason and decided I would look at my phone...bad decision...I had 62 emails (FOR REAL!) and started going through them and responding.  Of course I couldn't go back to sleep afer that so I just got up, got ready and went down to check out.  Went out front and the concierge had a car waiting for me.  I asked them if 100 RMB would be enough and they said absolutely (I went to the ATM and that was all I took out).  It was around 70 RMB from the airport to the hotel the previous night and we sat in traffic for a long time. They handed me a little card with the taxi number on it - I guess so you can complain if something goes wrong - and I got in.  They had already told him I needed to go to the airport.  As soon as I sat down, he turned around and held his hand out for the card...I had no idea why, but I just gave it to him...not thinking twice about it.  He looked a little scary...really bad teeth (like most everyone else in Beijing).  Off we went into the dark.  About 15 minutes in to the drive, I just feel weird.  I look down and see that the guy doesn't even have his meter on.  A million things start running through my head and I start to freak myself out.  It's dark...are we even going to the airport??  What if he takes me somewhere and dumps me off?  Why isn't his meter on?  He speaks NO english...great.  He apparently saw something in the road and started to stop...on the side of the highway...I'm REALLY freaking out now...about to call Amy at 5am and make her talk to this guy...but he doesn't stop and decided to keep going.  Then...the best of all...he turns the wrong way down a one-way on-ramp.  I just saw a car come up it, and it had a big read circle with a white line through it...like "DO NOT ENTER".  Well he whips it around and goes down it...I'm about to scream.  We make it down the ramp - the wrong way - and on to another highway...and I see an airplane on a sign...at least we are going the right way now.  HOW is this guy a taxi driver!?  About 10 minutes later we make it to the airport.  I get out, he gets my bags out and I say how much?  He says 200.  What?!  "200?!" I repeated?  He shook his head yes.  This guy was totally trying to scam me.  Too bad all I had ws 100...which was still a rip off.  I tried to explain to him that that was all I had...he was NOT happy...but I didn't really care...that jerk took me down a ramp the wrong way and almost killed me!  I just turned around and walked quickly in to the airport...just glad I made it there and wasn't dead on the side of the road somewhere...


In the airport, I'm looking for DragonAir...the airline my flight is on.  I see every other single airline imaginable but can't find DragonAir.  I asked two people where it was...no English.  The airport was pretty much dead.  Finally someone who speaks English points me to DragonAir...two little booths in the very back corner.  And no one is there.  Not open yet.  If they are going to tell you to be there two hours early for international flights, maybe they should have the check-in open!  It didn't open until 6am...so I sat and waited.  Finally got checked in and walked through security in about a minute - no line.  I found my gate and was exhausted.  I put my feet over my suitcase, my purse on my stomach with my arms over it, and my backpack as my pillow - and fell asleep.  I woke up about an hour later...surrounded by Asians!  Haha...it was kind of shocking to wake up to that...when I fell asleep I was the only one there!  Boarded my plane - window seat with no one next to me so I could spread out al ittle bit - and slept a little more on the 3 hour flight back.  Landed in HK just after 11am and walked off the plane on stairs...had to take a bus to the terminal.  Walked in...and surprise...the line to go through immigration is LONG...VERY LONG.  I waited in line for over an HOUR.  Finally made it through, found the train, got on, and got off 25 minutes later in Central Station.  Just had to get a taxi and make it back to the office in time to pick up the rental car and driver at 2.  No way - line is even longer for a taxi than it was to get through immigration.  Another 45 minute wait for a taxi...and then traffic is crazy...make it to my hotel around 2:30.  Amy and I are late.  We walked a few blocks to pick up the rental car for my boss next week and to meet the driver.  Amy and I were supposed to go look at aprtments for him since he is thinking about moving his family over here to HK for the school year (August 2008 - May 2009).  He told me to, "pick out a nice one because whereever he lives is where I'm going to be living to."  I guess that means I might be moving to Hong Kong next year??  ;) 


(Missy - you should stop reading here unless you want to find out how bad your driver is going to be next week!! ;) )


Amy fills out the paper work at Avis, the driver shows up (who speaks NO English) and we head up the elevator to get the car.  The guy she hired happens to be her friends dad...who she says is a part-time driver.  YEAH RIGHT -- I honestly don't think this guy has ever driver a car in his life.  We get a Toyota Picnic...kind of a small SUV and he gets in.  He has absolutely zero idea how to even get it in gear.  The rental guy - looking a little worred - comes over and tries to get him to roll down the window to give him some guidance.  No can do - he can't figure out the windows either.  So he just opens the door...and starts telling the guy all about the car.  UNbelievable.  I mean just a total shit show, haha!  So he finally thinks he has it...and revs up the gas to go...the car till in park...NO WAY...I just start laughing.  Okay - we finally get going...he is the most nervous/cautious driver I've EVER seen.  Honestly, I would have been a better driver in HK than this guy!!  He is jerking back and forth - we almot hit the side wall in the parking garage at leat 7 times in the 200 feet we drove in it.  NOW we pull ou ton to the BUSY street...holy shit...I am seriously going to die!  Amy is so pissed at this point.  I mean I'm a little worried...but still think it's hilarious that this guy has NO clue what he's doing.  I'm thinking at this oint I should offer to drive...even if it is on the other side of the street in a weird car...I would've been 100 times better.  The guy is going ridiculously slow and doesn't know the area or the roads at all.  Amy and this guy are yelling back and forth in cantonese...and I finally interrupt and say, "Umm...Amy?  What's going on?"  She says, "Well I just don'tknow the roads that well."  (She doesn't drive here).  I said isn't that the point of hiring a driver...to know the roads?  She said, well he doesn't know them like I thought he did.  Wow...so this goes on for 20 minutes or so.  Him weaving back and forth in traffic and slamming on the breaks...I'm about to throw up in the back seat...seriously.  Cars are honking at him right and left because he has no idea what he is doing...and he keeps reaching down for the clutch to change gears every two seconds...but we aren't driving a stick-shift car.  Amy is just screaming at him ... SO funny...   I finally say, "Amy, you know if Kent (our boss) gets in this car next week with this guy, you are going to lose your job?"  I wasn't joking at all either.  She yelled, "I know Terri!  I'll find a new driver!!"  she was obviously VERY annoyed with this guy who she thought was going to be good.  So all the bad driving aside, we looked at some amazing apratments in HK.  They all had great views and were huge. 

The good news is we made it back alive...barely.  We paid the driver for his time and Amy told him we would NOT be using him next week when my boss gets here...thank GOD!  I kind of felt bad for the guy, because he knew he was terrible. 


Anywyas - we dropped the rental car off again (we just test drove it today to go look at the apratments we will take our boss to on Monday).  Amy went out on the town for her birthday (which is tomorrow) and I came up to the office to work.  And that brings me up to now.    I know, I know...it's 11:30pm on Friday night in Hong Kong and I'm in the office working.  No life.  :) Maybe I'll have some fun tomorrow.  I need to work in the morning, but might take a ferry to Macau in  the afternoon -- I hear it's just like Las Vegas! 


Sorry this was ridiculously long!  I'll try to write more often so they don't turn in to novels! :)


-TK