Tuesday, Aug 14, 2018 Beijing-Pingyao In a Medieval Mode: On cue, we awoke at 5.30 am, washed, packed up last minute items, picked up packed breakfast and left with Frank to find a taxi at the end of the road to take us to Beijing West Railway Station. By 6.10 am, we are in a…
All posts in China
Beyond the Bucket List—Scaling the Great Wall of China and Visiting Beijing Olympics Park
Monday, August 13, 2-18 Janshanling Great Wall and Beijing Olympics Park Today was another deeply challenging day for us in China but boy, how satisfying and fulfilling it turned out to be! We had a packed breakfast kept ready for us at 6.30 provided by Frank, hotel receptionist at our Red Capital Residence Hotel. Our…
Being in Beijing: The Thrills of Tianenman Square and the Forbidden City
Sunday, August 13, 2018 Being in Beijing: The Thrills of Tianenman Square and the Forbidden City When we awoke at 8.00 am (after setting our phone alarms), we showered and made the discovery that our hotel was set up beautifully in a traditional ‘hutong’—Beijing-style housing built around a common garden-courtyard with rooms on four sides…
Horrendous Travel Misadventures on Entry into China
Sunday, August 12, 2018 Bombay-Hong Kong-Beijing Upon arrival at Hong Kong airport, my watch was set to Bombay local time. I knew I had a bit of a long layover in Hong Kong and I did not catch the local time when it was announced on the PA system in the aircraft. I had every…
Xian’s Many Surprizes: The Emperor’s Terracotta Army, Bell Tower, Drum Tower and the Muslim Quarter
Wednesday, Aug 15, 2018 Xian Viewing the Emperor’s Terracotta Army And So Much More Xian was amazing. All I had expected to find was a small, one-horse town that leapt to global prominence following the discovery of thousands of buried terracotta warriors. In fact, as we discovered, it offered far far more. When we alighted…
Shanghai Sightseeing Seemingly on Skates
Sunday, July 6, 2014 Shanghai Sightseeing Seemingly on Skates With just one more day to see Shanghai, we knew we had to sight see on roller skates. So we lost no time rising and showering after an incredibly comfortable night, to descend to the fifth floor Dining Hall where a buffet breakfast came with…
In China Finally! Sashaying Around Shanghai
Saturday, July 5, 2014 Tokyo-Shanghai Sashaying Around Shanghai, China The Narita Express train (easily accessible from Tokyo’s Main Station) whisked up off to Narita airport at. 7 15 am. It is a modern, sleek and efficient service and although the distance covered is great, the speed is so enormous that one arrives at Narita Airport…