April
4, Wednesday & April 5, Thursday
Wednesday
The flight is uneventful and I don't get to see much of the land below me because of the clouds.
Beijing airport
City views along the way
Old and new side by side
The gates to the walled old city
I arrive at the airport and get a taxi to bring me to the Day’s Inn Hotel near the Forbidden City. Pretty much like all Days Inns, very simple but clean. The best part is that I can walk to the Forbidden City from here.
Buildings near my hotel
My room at the Days Inn
Beijing, formerly Peking, one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Almost 20 million people live here. Found out that all of China is on the same time zone. That will make things easier during my travels.
Wednesday
Cantonese spoken in Hong Kong, very musical, love the intonations. According to Wikipedia, spoken by most
Canadian Chinese. Also spoken in many
other countries. Mandarin spoken in mainland China, although Cantonese is also spoken in certain regions, as well as a variety of other dialects.
Wanted to go to the post office to mail some stuff back
to Ottawa, but found out that today, April 4, is a holiday in Hong Kong (it is usually on April 5th, but
since this is a leap year, it is April) “Ching Ming Festival occurs about 15 days after the Vernal Equinox; it is the day for paying
respect to one's ancestors.” Just
my luck for procrastinating when I could have taken care of this days ago!
Thursday
Flight from Hong Kong to Beijing. How lucky can I get. There is a post office at the airport in Hong Kong and the gentlemen working there does a great job of wrapping my box for me. The flight is uneventful and I don't get to see much of the land below me because of the clouds.
Beijing airport
City views along the way
Old and new side by side
The gates to the walled old cityI arrive at the airport and get a taxi to bring me to the Day’s Inn Hotel near the Forbidden City. Pretty much like all Days Inns, very simple but clean. The best part is that I can walk to the Forbidden City from here.
Buildings near my hotel
My room at the Days InnBeijing, formerly Peking, one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Almost 20 million people live here. Found out that all of China is on the same time zone. That will make things easier during my travels.
