Travel and Beijing

Beijing.

Well, I'm here in Beijing ready to start out on this adventure. In fact, I'm keen and eager to get on the road - this waiting around (though absolutely necessary) annoys me and seems a waste of time.

Journey started at Dublin Airport early on Tuesday morning with goodbyes to Margaret. Had already checked in on line but at Bag Drop my bike box  was 8 kg over the 23 kg allowance and necessitated a sizeable extra fee. I definitely wasn't going to attempt re-pack and re-arrange. Had plenty of time to breakfast and relax.

A 7- hour flight with Etihad brought some us to Abu Dhabi and it took an age to move from touch-down to terminal. When I finally got through the Arrivals, the board showed Last Call for my onward flight to Beijing. So, it was a mad rush up and down escalators, through shopping areas and just made it; queue all gone through. But what about my luggage. Asked the lady to check; she rolled her monitor 'Yes, two pieces, gone through' Ah, relief.

Another 7 hours to Beijing and out came my 'two pieces' to meet me at the carousel. I had a mini- bus waiting (courtesy of Jimmy Xing) and although the driver hadn’t a word of English (and less of Irish) he had been well informed where the hotel was.

The trip to the Holiday Inn took about an hour through heavy early morning traffics the stages. And a thick moggy haze (AQI 169) all about. But I was a happy camper with my large bag at my feet and the bike-box in the back.

Quick check in at the hotel (large international) but most of staff (even Concierge) had no English.

Relief to be in the room intact. 

In the afternoon, I re-assembled the bike and re-arranged my luggage into the Daily and Permanent bags. That’s the housekeeping taken care of. Then off for a walk around the neighbourhood (on the northern side of the city between the 4 th and 5 th Ring Roads). Had a few things to pick up, but signs over shops were unintelligible to me. And no point in enquiringly either.

Generally feeling shattered and bereft of energy as the evening wore on, so had an early dinner here in the hotel and hit the sack to hopefully recover.

Thursday.

What a great sleep! 16 hours; missed breakfast and woke at 1 pm. But energy levels are back up. By 4 pm I was out on the bike (plenty of local company) and cycled off towards the Old Summer Palace. T’was a relief to be back on the bike; and refreshing. 

Had dinner in ’Flying Noodles’ (in English) not KFC, and struggled to master the chopsticks. Cleared the plate in spite of all.

Met a few of our cycling group in the foyer of the hotel - mostly from Canada. We’ll all formally meet on Saturday morning.

Fine Internet access in the hotel but Facebook blocked. There are those who would suggest that I’ll suffer withdrawal symptoms!!!

Another early night tonight