Thursday, December 6, 2007
Day 1 update
The day was long and tiring but we are now very sleepy and are done for the night.
After making it thru Customs (nobody even got searched or questioned) and getting our luggage, it was a 45 minute ride to our hotel in Beijing. We got in around 3 and after Ma-Rei (our guide) handed us our keys, we all went to our rooms to wait for our luggage.
Once the luggage arrived, we headed out to a local bank to get our travellers checks converted to Chinese Yuan so we could do some shopping. Most of the group went, but a couple families stayed behind to get caught up on sleep. The bank was quite an interesting experience. It's setup more like a service desk than a bank. Very small and we took a number then sat along the wall and waited until our number appeared over the ext available teller. If you were not up and in front of the teller within 5 seconds they went to the next number. Out of 5 couples, 3 of us missed our number then that just created confusion for everyone. And no "wanna-be cop" security guard there. Nope. The security guard dressed in camo fatigues with a billy stick about 2 inches thick was intimidating enough, but the military guy with the AK47 machine gun in the doorway when we were leaving was just too much. Not quite like the Royal Bank that we're used to.
We then headed out to a small grocery store to pick up essentials. Someone needed a new suitcase, some people wanted fruit, we got a couple bottles of water. 600 ML of water was .90 Yuan, Pringles were 19 Yuan, A can of Budweiser costs 12 Yuan. There's a local beer on the shelf for 2 Yuan. Remember, a Yuan is about 14 cents. Some things were not much different in price. An Ipod Touch was 2500 Yuan ($330+), a 2GB memory card for a computer was 210 Yuan ($29 bucks) No real deal on those items.
We came back to the hotel and Jen repacked out luggage for our trip to Chongqing tomorrow. The weather is 10 to 17 degrees there for the next week so things like Kate's snowsuit can stay here. The hotel allows us to store excess luggage here until we return next week. My carry-on wheelie bag broke and the handle would not come up for me to drag it along. Good thing I brought some tools and I was able to patch it up well enough to continue using it as it should.
After making it thru Customs (nobody even got searched or questioned) and getting our luggage, it was a 45 minute ride to our hotel in Beijing. We got in around 3 and after Ma-Rei (our guide) handed us our keys, we all went to our rooms to wait for our luggage.
Once the luggage arrived, we headed out to a local bank to get our travellers checks converted to Chinese Yuan so we could do some shopping. Most of the group went, but a couple families stayed behind to get caught up on sleep. The bank was quite an interesting experience. It's setup more like a service desk than a bank. Very small and we took a number then sat along the wall and waited until our number appeared over the ext available teller. If you were not up and in front of the teller within 5 seconds they went to the next number. Out of 5 couples, 3 of us missed our number then that just created confusion for everyone. And no "wanna-be cop" security guard there. Nope. The security guard dressed in camo fatigues with a billy stick about 2 inches thick was intimidating enough, but the military guy with the AK47 machine gun in the doorway when we were leaving was just too much. Not quite like the Royal Bank that we're used to.
We then headed out to a small grocery store to pick up essentials. Someone needed a new suitcase, some people wanted fruit, we got a couple bottles of water. 600 ML of water was .90 Yuan, Pringles were 19 Yuan, A can of Budweiser costs 12 Yuan. There's a local beer on the shelf for 2 Yuan. Remember, a Yuan is about 14 cents. Some things were not much different in price. An Ipod Touch was 2500 Yuan ($330+), a 2GB memory card for a computer was 210 Yuan ($29 bucks) No real deal on those items.
We came back to the hotel and Jen repacked out luggage for our trip to Chongqing tomorrow. The weather is 10 to 17 degrees there for the next week so things like Kate's snowsuit can stay here. The hotel allows us to store excess luggage here until we return next week. My carry-on wheelie bag broke and the handle would not come up for me to drag it along. Good thing I brought some tools and I was able to patch it up well enough to continue using it as it should.
As for technology, we've had a perfect 2 for 2 using Skype (Skype Out actually) to call home to our parents landlines. Simple to use and cheap. Under 2 cents per minute. I was unable to view anything that ends in .blogspot.com so I had to use Hamachi to get into my sever at home, then use VPN to take control and view them from there. If none of this makes any sense to you, you are excused.
That's it from here. Off to do some exploring tomorrow morning as the others will have to do the bank thing then we're off to the Temple of Heaven before we head to the airport.
Here's some pics from today.
Jen (and Alexin the background) at the Toronto airport before we left.
Somewhere over Russia about 4 hours before landing. (thats what the flight attendant told us)
Waiting for our luggage in Beijing.
The contrast between the classes. Look at the fairly new construction in the background and the run-down buildings in the foreground.
What says that the Chinese don't celebrate Chistmas? Thsi was across from our hotel in Beijing in the "mall" that had our bank in it.
# posted by EssGeeEff : 7:47 AM
Comments:
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Whoo-hoo!! You're there!! How exciting. That is a great hotel you are at. The restaurant where you get breakfast is okay - do the buffet for best selection - but don't forget to check out the restaurant in the left of the lobby - near the back. Yum-O! Sleep well. Soon you will be off to meet Kate!!
Glad to hear you finally made it there safe and sound! The bank sounds almost scary. Thanks for the update, love the pictures!
Enjoy every second!!
Smiles! :o)
Nikki
Enjoy every second!!
Smiles! :o)
Nikki
Glad you made it safe. Keep the updates coming! Better than reading the news paper.
PS: Don't forget my baby panda.
Jason
PS: Don't forget my baby panda.
Jason
# posted by 
: December 6, 2007 at 10:54 AM
: December 6, 2007 at 10:54 AM
I have chills just thinking that you are in Beijing ~ so close to finally meeting baby Kate! Wow!!
You guys look great in your picture ~ you don't look like you've just travelled to China!
Hugs!
Angela (& Bryan too!)
You guys look great in your picture ~ you don't look like you've just travelled to China!
Hugs!
Angela (& Bryan too!)
It's so wonderful to see a picture of you in China. Only hours now until Kate is in your arms. We can't wait to see those pictures!!
Cheryl, Graham, Sarah & Han
Cheryl, Graham, Sarah & Han
# posted by : December 6, 2007 at 2:25 PM
: December 6, 2007 at 2:25 PM
I think by the time you read this you will have Kate....yeah!!!!! love the pics, can't wait to see ones of you guys with your daughter.
Shonda and Blake
xo's
Shonda and Blake
xo's
Great to hear of your safe arrival. You must have been beginning to think this day would never come.
We're anxiously awaiting a picture of you all together.
Keep sending info. It's very interesting.
Love, Stephen,Beth & Christine
We're anxiously awaiting a picture of you all together.
Keep sending info. It's very interesting.
Love, Stephen,Beth & Christine
# posted by : December 6, 2007 at 6:01 PM
: December 6, 2007 at 6:01 PM
yay! You've finally made it. So glad all the technical stuff is working out...can't wait to see Kate with her mommy and daddy!
Hello Jen and Scott
Love the blog site - we're happy to see your journey is going well (despite the snowy start). Sorry we missed your Saturday night send off - we were down with the flu. Enjoy the experience - you must be so excited/nervous to finally hold baby Kate:)We'll be thinking of you. Safe travels ...
Scott
Love the blog site - we're happy to see your journey is going well (despite the snowy start). Sorry we missed your Saturday night send off - we were down with the flu. Enjoy the experience - you must be so excited/nervous to finally hold baby Kate:)We'll be thinking of you. Safe travels ...
Scott
# posted by : December 6, 2007 at 7:02 PM
: December 6, 2007 at 7:02 PM
Very happy to hear that you guys made it safe and sound.....my godness can you believe it your in CHINA!!!!!
Great photos and info.keep it coming.Looking forward to your next post.
((((big hugs)))
Great photos and info.keep it coming.Looking forward to your next post.
((((big hugs)))
Hi Scott and Jen,
Happy to hear you are in China!!! Can't wait to see those first pics of you holding Kate!!!
Stephanie
Happy to hear you are in China!!! Can't wait to see those first pics of you holding Kate!!!
Stephanie
Yeah!Yeah!Yeah! You made it!!! Don't forget Starbucks is just a block away, and a great grocery store is in the basement of the mall with Starbucks.
You are so close to meeting Kate, get some sleep while you have the chance.
The Nickerson's
You are so close to meeting Kate, get some sleep while you have the chance.
The Nickerson's
# posted by : December 6, 2007 at 8:09 PM
: December 6, 2007 at 8:09 PM
So glad to see you are there, safe and happy! Thanks for the updates...it's so nice to be able to follow and see pictures! Have a great trip tomorrow (or today for you I guess)
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