Monday the 27th

Up early to get to airport for a 9am flight.  Cab to the fast airport train, and 20 minutes to the airport.  I've got to say that the airports in Asia seem to be much better organized and have better infrastructure than any I've seen in the US.  Just having free carts is a major plus.

Thoughts on Hong Kong:

I am again amazed at the verticality of this city.  There are so many high rise buildings that it boggles the mind.  Eve on the train to the airport, there were dozens of high rises in what appeared to be the industrial/shipping area.  Hong Kong is one of the busiest ports in the world, but I saw in today's Washington Post (now that I finally got my wifi working) that the Chinese government is proposing to transform Shanghai into a major financial/shipping zone by 2020.  Maybe they are anticipating a change in Hong Kong's status at the end of the "Special Relationship" period ending in 2047.

 

We got to Beijing on an easy flight.  The airport was huge, but efficient.  We got through passport control as well as customs with ease, once we found our bags.  We were met by Mei Ping, who also goes by the name of "Silver".  We drove into town to our hotel in the central area, and checked in.  We had a free afternoon, so we went to the "Silk Market", which has everything under the sun in 6 floors of little stalls.  As you walk in, the clerks were literally grabbing your arm to pull you into their stall to sell you something, anything.  Bargaining is crazy, and they are very aggressive and relatively nasty when you say no.  Ann was looking for beads and pearls for Ellen, and found some at a reasonable price.  After a while, I couldn't stand it and waited outside.  Even there, people were trying to sell stuff.  Socks, watches, gloves, etc etc etc.  Negotiating for a cab back was fun also, as 3 cabbies didn't want to bother and refused to take us.

After a nap, we went out to walk to get dinner.  We went to the "Walking Street", which one would think was like the open air markets of Taipei.  Not on your life.  This was glitz central.  Every brand you can think of, and many I never heard of.  Mercedes, Rolls, Lambhorgini stores next to each other.  Rolex, Hermes, Van Cleef & Arpels, and more.  A cell phone store that looked like a jewelry store with phones locked in cases.  There was a kiosk of candy, and people were rushing in, well, like a kid in a candy store.  Everything is frenetic.  The traffic is crazy; lights don't matter; turning lanes don't matter; pedestrians are on their own.  Everyone is out to make a buck, and those who have the bucks want to spend it and show off their bling.

Dinner was at a little restaurant we found and I had real beef & broccoli with Chinese broccoli.  I had been told we couldn't get what we would otherwise consider Chinese food, but this was outstanding.  Ann had the eggplant.  As good as it was, we couldn't finish.  Too bad we couldn't get a doggie bag.

Tomorrow Tiennamen, Forbidden Palace and more.