We took the subway from Teddy's parents' house and left in plenty of time for our flight out of the Pudong airport an hour and a half away. We got to the counter only to be told that our flight was canceled (no notice email mind you) and that we now were flying out an hour later than scheduled from the Hongqiao airport (close to Teddy's parents' house where we just came from). We had just enough time to get there they said and that we were to take a bus and would be reimbursed. We had only exchanged just enough money to get to the original airport so we had to exchange money to take the bus (after sprinting across the airport to the bus stop). We got to the counter to exchange money to find out they took a 50% commission! 50% of our money was just kept for the sheer fact that they could because we were desperate. Jake speaks the language, we're not supposed to get jipped like other tourist, but we did and Jake was ANGRY about it and let the guy behind the glass know it was a rip off. We took our money (well half our money) and waited for the bus impatiently. It came and our bus driver seemed to be in NO HURRY. Jake fell asleep and I prayed nonstop the entire hour ride to the other airport as my stomach was in knots that we would miss our flight.
Did I mention our bus driver continually texted and drove? As if the streets and freeways of China aren't crazy enough as it is. With our exit in sight I thought we were in the clear til our bus driver decided at the last second not to take that exit and jumped 3 lanes back onto the freeway at way too fast a speed for my comfort. It was impressive. They maneuver those buses like nothing I've ever seen before, well except for maybe on that SPEED movie with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.
We ran through the airport, got our tickets and our bus money refunded and somehow made it through security and onto our plane just in time. We were at peace as we sat there together. Little did we know that only 24% of China flights leave on time and this one was our first of many delayed flights. We sat on the plane for an hour but thankfully they served us a meal and I found us two seats on the side that we moved to.
We were off! The view out our window was one again one full of smog. The air quality in China is very poor. They are becoming powerful on the backs of their country and it reminds me of our own industrial revolution.
We took naps on the plane and made it 2 hours later to Beijing!
As soon as we stepped off the plane in Beijing I could see the differences everywhere. The English translations were cracking me up. This one about convenience was on the bathroom stall doors.
The water in China is not drinkable from the tap so they have these in some public areas. I made sure to put my cup in the ASH bin when I was done.
We took a train into town from the airport and I loved seeing all the areas of small farming. It does not seem to me they have the massive industrialized style of farming we practice nowadays in the states.
We passed some of the Olympic areas of Beijing.
We made it into town and transferred from the train, to the subway, to a bus to our hotel. When we got to our hotel we were not impressed. The pictures online were quite nicer than the actual rooms. Jake's law school friends had stayed there previously and told us it was good and so had reviews online. We were quite disappointed but thankfully got an upgrade to a "Chinese style room" that was nicer. It did however have the air conditioning vent directly over our heads in bed and our throats got sore and we had runny noses. On the last night we moved our bed across the room and that helped big time.
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