The Ride - 10.13 + 10.14

Being on the west coast, we are evenly spaced from east asia and western europe, which makes the flight from SFO to Beijing much more bearable. We were unfortunate though with the seat arrangement, since we got to the airport a *mere* 2 hours ahead. We had E and F, the middle seats of the middle section, with a glaring out-of-tune monitor blasting light at us. So the 12 hours didn't exactly melt away. But the service was quite surprisingly decent. And the airline food not so horrible.

We landed at Beijing to a dusky sunset. To call it dusky is giving it the benefit of the doubt. The Capital Airport was laid out much like any other but for the noticeable lack of ventilation. We waited with throngs of people for our connection to Shanghai, ended up totally lucking out on that leg, getting the first row window seats with oodles of leg room. And we didn't even have to ask for it!

Hong Qiao airport was entirely oldschool in comparison. They had chairs all made of metal, pots of pretty azaleas alternating with other leafies, half walls in hospital blue, and a toilet I ran out as soon as I stepped in. Outside there were two huuuuuge lines for taxis, one "short distance", one long. Of course, I had no clue if where we are going counted as short or long, had to ask someone. It was almost a disneyland line, but mercifully fast moving. With a bit difficulty we finally arrived at my aunt's place, after 20 hours of travel. Hot shower and a bowl of authentic steaming chicken broth noodle, the baby chicken kind that had been stewed all day. Then off to our separate rooms to bed.

Perfume for Yiyi 25USD. Icewine for aunt 289Y. Pack of preserved prune 12Y. IC phone card 100Y. Taxi from Hong Qiao to aunts place 74Y.