1st Day in China
Trip Start
Aug 25, 2010
1
4
84
Trip End
Jul 05, 2011
Beijing, China
Sunday, August 29, 2010
I’m typing this in MS Word, figuring I can copy and paste to Travelpod. I tried resting, but can’t sleep. I took a few photos: the Wi-Fi kiosk, a terminal general area and a China Southern Airlines area, where I’m sitting with all my bags. It’s now 3:05 a.m. here, just after noon where I last slept in a bed over 24 hours ago. How many hours till I get to sleep? I expect about 20 more, unless youhoolee is very, very understanding. The main reason I’m off line is the ID & PW I got a few hours ago is apparently good for 1 session or 5 hours, whichever is first. My laptop battery won’t last much longer and so far I’ve found one column with a few public electric receptacles (I later found more, but none did anything for my laptop). I got 300 yuan from an ATM, but no one machines will accept a 100 RMB (about $15). I risked a drink of cold water from the drinking fountain, but forgot my water bottles, so I couldn't fill up. I need some water soon to mix in an Emergen-C to help me get through the day. A bit later I acknowledged a young man who I thought had been staring at me.
I took pictures of the reader board saying G6-11 for my flight. Fortunately a Chinese lady was ahead of me in the line G6-11 line of 3. We both apparently ignored the ",F" after G6-11. She asked a security guy who directed us to the F section. Of course it was a zoo there. With her help, young Harbin lady going home for 15 days after working in NZ for 3 years, I finally got to the counter and checked in for the flight to Changsha. The agent was going to charge me for excess bags, but after a conversation with a co-worker, about me being from the US, I was given my boarding pass and passport and proceeded to security. I set off the alarm, maybe, or they search everyone: on a short podium, wand and hands everywhere. Very polite & professional, but more than typical TSA touchy feely. Arthur's (given name per passport) from Kazakhstan and we had a good time as I was mostly helping him with his English. It was his 1st time away from home and he was overwhelmed. He's a student, that was told one day that he was going to go study Chinese in Dalian, so here he was, torn from family, girlfriend, friends and his comfort zone. When I mentioned I didn't have a water bottle, he gave me the his Nestea bottle from home, with the last ounces of tea in it. I was very grateful and plan on e-mailing him soon.
I got to my boarding area 10 minutes till boarding and saw a nice little water bottle station with coffee filter type paper cups. About 4 "cups" of water into the Nestea bottle, and I had my Emergen-C.The Southern China flight was exquisitely bright and clean aircraft. I had my first meal: salad, pork & noodles and a delicious cup of yogurt. Watched a movie, sort of a Chinese Blazing Saddles. Quite entertaining! Then there was about a 10 minute Bui Dong Jin (or something similar). Definitely a Jin movement, pressure point self health video, done by China Southern with a few of their flight attendants. I followed most of it and did some in moderation, as some others also did. It was fun and interesting and possibly helpful.
Comments
I think Mrs Ruth have to take a water bottle with her. so she woun't go through this,wow water bottle dispebser nice .
bye.