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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 9:20 AM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 1,726 ft
China Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport 30.58, 103.95530°34’48” N 103°57’18” E
We're Checked In
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Checking in was quick and painless and now we're ready to run the gauntlet of security. I'm really hoping that it's not going to be as bad as it was in Beijing. I've never seen, or even heard of, security being so overzealous. I'm hoping that we won't ever have to go through something like that again but we're about to find out how they do it here in Chengdu.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 9:47 AM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 1,726 ft
China Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport 30.58, 103.95530°34’48” N 103°57’18” E
Waiting to Leave
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
We're here at Gate 25 and ready to fly off on Sichuan Airlines to Beijing. Getting through security was a breeze and, unlike Beijing, we only had to pass through one check point. We allowed extra time for heavy security checks and now we're left waiting at our our gate for two hours.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 9:55 AM
⛅ 72 °F
Altitude: 1,726 ft
China Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport 30.58, 103.95530°34’48” N 103°57’18” E
Still Waiting
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
I think that having to wait for a flight at the airport gates is probably the worst part of traveling. There's really nothing to do except just sitting down and waiting. I would have liked to maybe do some photography, possibly something with the Lego figures, but because we're in such a small part of the airport, there's nothing here that would really look good in a photo. I'll get some Lego shots later but right now I'll just wait.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 10:56 AM
⛅ 73 °F
Altitude: 1,726 ft
China Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport 30.58, 103.95530°34’48” N 103°57’18” E
On the Bus
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
It's nearly time for us to leave and, once again, everyone is being herded onto a bus. I'm guessing that this means our plane is not here and we're going to have to climb up those steep steps to board the plane. I wonder why the airports here do this. Isn't it easier, and more efficient, for the plane to come right up to the gate? At least the bus we're on now is more modern than what we rode in Beijing when we first arrived in China. I can still remember having to breathe those strong diesel fumes at the Beijing airport.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 11:06 AM
⛅ 73 °F
Altitude: 1,667 ft
China Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport 30.58833, 103.9566730°35’18” N 103°57’24” E
Ready to Board
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Once again, we have to walk but a flight of stairs to get on the plane. I'm very surprised that flights here don't use the jetway. It's so much easier when you have luggage. What about elderly people or if someone is in a wheelchair? How would they even be able to get on the plane? There's got to be a better way! At least Kathy and I were smart this time and checked our luggage. There's no fee for checking bags so why should we struggle up the stairs with our suitcases? It's so much easier getting around with just a carry on bag!Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 11:14 AM
⛅ 73 °F
Altitude: 1,667 ft
China Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport 30.58833, 103.9566730°35’18” N 103°57’24” E
Leaving Chengdu
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
We're finally in our seats and ready to go. Sichuan Airlines seems very nice! The planes are very clean, modern and seem to be well maintained. Their seats are very comfortable, too. So far, I like Sichuan Airlines much better than China Southern. There's a kid sitting right in front of me who keeps jumping around and climbing on his seat. I hope that he settles down once we take off. If not, this could become quite annoying.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 12:20 PM
☁️ 55 °F
Altitude: 5,623 ft
China Duiwoshi 33.57862, 106.7000233°34’43” N 106°42’0” E
Up in the Air
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
All of this traveling is tiring but it's also very exciting and a lot of fun. I think that we'll be traveling more miles on this trip then we've ever done before. We're certainly racking up the frequent flyer miles on this vacation!Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 12:50 PM
Altitude: 4,911 ft
China Tianzi’ao 36.18953, 108.1337436°11’22” N 108°8’1” E
Lunch is Served
September 26, 2018 in China
We've been flying for a while and we're perhaps about half way to Beijing. Lunch is being served and we've given a choice of either a noodle dish or a rice dish. I didn't want either but I picked the rice meal and Kathy selected the noodles. She's very hungry and hopefully, between both of our meals, she can put together a good lunch for herself. As for myself, I'm more thirsty than hungry. The stewardess, thankfully, has been given me plenty of water to drink.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 12:57 PM
Altitude: 4,902 ft
China Majiahe 36.50233, 108.6635836°30’8” N 108°39’49” E
Feeling Hungry
September 26, 2018 in China
Between the rice and the noodle dishes Kathy was able to get a lunch that satisfied her appetite. It wasn't the greatest food but it was better than any of the airline food that we've had so far. I wish that they had served something that I could have ate but I know it's not going to happen on any of our flights here. Maybe on our way home I'll be able to eat what I'm served by the airline.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 2:40 PM
☀️ 72 °F
Altitude: 108 ft
China Beijing Capital International Airport 40.07634, 116.6044240°4’35” N 116°36’16” E
We're in Beijing!
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We landed in Beijing right on time and we just got off the plane. We've been here before but almost all we did was go through customs and far too many security check points. We didn't even see much of the airport because we were rushing to get to our connecting flight to Chengdu. Maybe we'll be able to see a bit more of Beijing's airport this time.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 2:57 PM
☀️ 72 °F
Altitude: 144 ft
China Beijing Capital International Airport 40.06666, 116.5903540°3’60” N 116°35’25” E
Leaving the Airport
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We had no problems getting our luggage and, thankfully, we didn't need to go past any security check points or pass through immigration. We must have landed at the far end of the airport because I feel like we've been walking so far. The representative for our tour guide company is waiting for us by the airport exit so we're going to leave now and look for somebody holding up a sign with our names on it. I've never had that done for me before and, I must admit, I'm kind of excited about it.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 3:37 PM
☀️ 73 °F
Altitude: 75 ft
China Longshancun 40.05333, 116.6083340°3’12” N 116°36’30” E
Taken?
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
We met the person who we thought was our guide but all he did was lead us to a car waiting for us outside. Once we were in the car, he waved to us, went back into the airport and the car took off. The driver never greeted us, acknowledged us, or even turned around. He was driving kind of fast too, constantly switching into different lanes. I was getting kind of scared and felt like I was in the movie Taken. Kathy was saying that the guy who met us probably only meets people at the airport and that's his only job. This driver was going quickly because he's got to get back to the airport in a hurry to get more people for the tour and he's not talking to us because he doesn't speak English. She was right about everything, of course, but I was still very nervous while taking this ride. I think that maybe I've been watching too many movies!Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 4:55 PM
☀️ 70 °F
Altitude: 194 ft
China Babaoshan 39.90672, 116.2272839°54’24” N 116°13’38” E
The Wanda Realm Hotel
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
It was long drive but we finally made it to the Wanda Realm hotel. The distance was probably about the same as driving from our Kennedy Airport into Manhattan but all the traffic really made the trip longer. It felt even longer because we had no idea where we were supposed to be going and I was quite nervous about this situation, as I described before, and I just wanted to get out of the car as soon as possible.
Anyway, this is going to be our home for the next few days while we're in Beijing. It looks more like an office building than a hotel but it has very good reviews on the internet. I think that we'll be very happy and comfortable here.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 5:15 PM
☀️ 70 °F
Altitude: 194 ft
China Babaoshan 39.90672, 116.2272839°54’24” N 116°13’38” E
The Main Lobby
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
Although it looks like an office building from the outside, the inside of the Wanda Realm Hotel is beautiful! I was impressed by our hotel in Chengdu but this place looks even nicer! I'm sure that we're going to be very happy and comfortable staying here!Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 5:32 PM
☀️ 70 °F
Altitude: 194 ft
China Babaoshan 39.90672, 116.2272839°54’24” N 116°13’38” E
Our Room
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
Our room looks fantastic! I'm sure that we're going to love staying here! The tour group we booked with must be doing a great job because we had no trouble at all checking in. Tonight is free time for us, to relax from the flight I suppose, and our tour begins tomorrow. In the meantime, we're going to take a short nap before we go out to find something to eat and maybe see what we can of Beijing. We're still not used to the time difference here yet.
This room also has that strange glass wall between the bathroom and the bedroom. I guess that's something normal here in China although I can't imagine why.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 8:40 PM
🌙 59 °F
Altitude: 213 ft
China Lugu 39.905, 116.2239°54’18” N 116°13’12” E
McDonald's for Dinner
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ 🌙 59 °F
A McDonald's right next to the hotel gave us an opportunity for a quick, but late dinner. Their menu is a bit different and it took us a while to figure out what we wanted because nothing was in English or Cantonese. I'm really glad that most of the fast food places overseas use those picture menus. In the end, we got our order exactly the way we wanted with no mistakes. This is my fist real meal today.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 9:38 PM
🌙 55 °F
Altitude: 213 ft
China Babaoshan 39.90643, 116.2253939°54’23” N 116°13’31” E
Wanda Plaza
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ 🌙 55 °F
The McDonald's was inside this shopping mall named Wanda Plaza. It looked much bigger inside than it did from the outside. There was lots of different stores here but nothing that really interested us since it seemed to be mostly expensive designer goods.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 9:47 PM
🌙 54 °F
Altitude: 213 ft
China Babaoshan 39.9064, 116.225439°54’23” N 116°13’31” E
Which One Will You Get?
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ 🌙 54 °F
This was probably the most interesting thing that I saw, aside from the restaurants, in this whole mall. These are collectible dolls that are sold blind boxed. That means that when you buy one you don't know which one you will get out of about a dozen different styles. Veronica likes to collect little dolls like this. I would have bought her some but none of the ones on this machine were from a series that she's already collecting. Hopefully I'll find something nice for her later.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 10:09 PM
🌙 54 °F
Altitude: 213 ft
China Lugu 39.905, 116.2239°54’18” N 116°13’12” E
Where is Everyone?
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ 🌙 54 °F
We recently finished up having dinner at McDonald's and then wandering around in Wanda Plaza, right across the street from our hotel. We just came out and found the streets empty. I'm very surprised to see a big city like Beijing so deserted. Like Chengdu, Beijing becomes a ghost town by 10:00. Maybe the idea of staying out late is United States thing?Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 10:18 PM
🌙 54 °F
Altitude: 213 ft
China Lugu 39.905, 116.2239°54’18” N 116°13’12” E
The Only Place Still Open
September 26, 2018 in China ⋅ 🌙 54 °F
We found one place still open, over by the side entrance of Wanda Plaza. It was a smaller version of WoWo, the 7-11 type of store that we saw in Chengdu. Although the name always changes, this sort of store seems to exist all over the world and almost always seems to be open for business. We were able to get some bottles of water here and a bag of chips to munch on back in the hotel. I'm glad a store like this is so close to where we're staying. I'm sure I'll be coming back here quite frequently.Read more
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Day 5
Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 3:40 AM
⛅ 54 °F
Altitude: 194 ft
China Babaoshan 39.9067, 116.227339°54’24” N 116°13’38” E
I Can't Sleep
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
I guess that I'm still not used to the time difference here in China because I just woke up and I'm feeling like I've already slept the whole night. This is our view from the Wanda Plaza Hotel. It's not the most exciting view but at least it's not a brick wall. I'm going to try to go back to sleep. Maybe if I wake up again at a more normal morning time, it will get me adjusted to the time here a bit faster. I hope so!Read more
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Day 5
Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 6:05 AM
⛅ 52 °F
Altitude: 194 ft
China Babaoshan 39.9067, 116.227339°54’24” N 116°13’38” E
Good Morning!
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
I was able to sleep a few more hours so I'm feeling very refreshed and full of energy. This is our view outside in the daytime. I think that it looks a bit more interesting at night. Let's get cleaned up and go downstairs to have breakfast. I'm starving!Read more
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Day 5
Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 7:15 AM
⛅ 55 °F
Altitude: 194 ft
China Babaoshan 39.90672, 116.2272839°54’24” N 116°13’38” E
Time for Breakfast
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
The breakfast buffet at the Wanda Realm seems better than what we had in Chengdu. Although I stuck mostly with buttered toast, there were a few other things that I could eat. The milk for cereal was very warm, just like in Chengdu, so I think that's just how the people here are used to having it. As for me, I wouldn't touch it. Warm milk is awful!
We're seeing some other American looking people around the hotel this morning. I wonder how many of them will be on the tour with us. So far, nobody is approaching anyone else to talk about it yet. I guess that everyone is a bit shy because we don't know each other yet.Read more
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Day 5
Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 8:10 AM
⛅ 59 °F
Altitude: 194 ft
China Babaoshan 39.90669, 116.2273139°54’24” N 116°13’38” E
Lets See Beijing!
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
As it turned out, quite a few of the people we saw at the breakfast buffet are on the tour with us. Other than saying good morning, there is not much talking in our group yet. I guess that will change as we get to know each other. I'm glad that this group is kind of small. If there's too many people it starts feeling crowded and impersonal. I also think that, if you're in a large group, you miss a lot of what your tour guides have to say. We were the last people to get on the bus. As everyone was boarding, Kathy decided that she wanted her jacket and ran back up to our room to get it. I hope that nobody got annoyed at her. That wouldn't be a good way to start the tour. We've never traveled anywhere with a tour before so, right now, we're not sure what to expect. I hope that we like it.Read more
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Day 5
Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 9:42 AM
⛅ 63 °F
Altitude: 105 ft
China Beijing 39.89974, 116.3930339°53’59” N 116°23’35” E
At Tiananmen Square
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Our first stop was Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. They are right next to each other but we were warned that it was going to be a lot of walking to walk through everything. We just got here but I'm already so impressed. I love this architecture!Read more
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