Beijing - Arrival Day

In my seven month stay in Hong Kong, I never had a real vacation. Sure I had almost scoured Hong Kong except Disneyland, but I wanted to do something that involves planes, hotels, map reading, and travel guides. The answer to my prayer? Annie and her 'rents to Beijing! I was very hesitant at first because the airfare is no joke. My travel agent (naks, "my" - I own him now!) originally offered me HK$4K, but eventually went down to HK$2,700.


I used Air China, and boy, I was never scared of flying in my entire life! Well, this is just the fourth time, so it really wasn't too credible. But read the story below so you can sympathize.



I came an hour and a half from my scheduled flight and I still managed to get a window seat. This is a very weird because as far as I know, flyers naturally go for the much reverred window seat. I was thankful nonetheless.
When the plane took off, reality kicked in. Parts of the wings are unscrewed and you can see them flapping every nanosecond. Also, as seen from this photo, a large portion has been rusting. You really wouldn't want to see it. Thus the window seat avoidance syndrome (I just coined it, so bear with me).

On a positive note, their food was great. Complete with rice and viand, salad, bread, dessert.

Odd story: They don't have a TV per passenger (duh, budget airline blsm), so I was stuck with the inflight radio. There are only three English stations. I did not like the other two, so I settled for the station that plays relaxing music. In my 3 hour flight, Sarah McLachlan's I will Remember you was played 5 times. That's half hour melancholy! Lord sign na ba ito?! Haha, anong sign?! Wala lang mapatugtog ang station, sign na agad!

We arrived at Beijing Intl Airport in one piece.

In the bus to BSU. We stayed at Beijing Sports University Dormitory Hall #8, specifically at Mang Sid's place, a good friend of Tita Lileth and Tito Pol, (Annie's cool 'rents). It's a three bedroom spacious apartment. Annie and I shared the warm room. Thank God!

I brought two Beijing travel books, which I never got to use. Hmmpp! Dagdag lang sa bagahe.


Is this a sheer coincidence or what?Our tour guide, a 23 year old Chinese Sports Medicine student and a protege of Mang Sid was celebrating his birthday on the day of our arrival (if you base it in the Gregorian calendar). We celebrated his birthday at a Peking Restaurant. The restaurant that we had gone to is incomparable compared to the Peking Resto's in HK. This is as good as it gets. Peking food in Peking!


Observation in Beijing: Public lights are a bit scarce. It's very different from HK and Macau. Lamposts are not so numerous and are of big intervals. In the hallways of the dormitory, the lights are sensor-operated, and will only work when somebody's coming. A good and inefficient way to use electricity I must say.


After getting drunk with Pekingnese food, we let Jiawei blow his bday cake. I can boldly say that this is the best banana cake in the world! - a specialty of Annie's aunt. Tita Lileth gave him two cakes. I ate almost half of HIS BIRTHDAY CAKE.

So much for our first day!