Landing in Beijing (August 10, 2004)
After a nine-hour flight to Toyko and then a four-hour flight to Beijing Capital International Airport, I landed in Beijing at 9:30 PM on August 10. All was good so far. But then I immediately had my first of what I suspect will be many opportunities to problem solve. In the airport terminal, I found a person who worked for the hotel I was registered to saty at a quick 1 mile from the airport. All was well until I discovered that she put me on a shuttle bus that went to the wrong hotel. The best part about it is that I saw the correct one as we drove by and tried my hardest to get the driver to stop there. He did not have a clue what I was saying, so on we went for another mile or so until we arrived at another hotel.
I would have settled for that hotel, except I did not want to pay for two hotels that night and I did not want to give up that easily. So, with the help of some Canadians who spoke some Chinese and were kind enough to give the taxi driver the fare because I had not yet exchanged any dollars to yuans, off I went. To another hotel, where the taxi driver gestured that it was definitely the correct place. I grabbed my bags and went to the front desk where no one was able to help me because none of them spoke any English (and I had not a clue where I was in relationship to the correct hotel). That is when I realized I had started my trip around the world.
After me showing them the name of my hotel (in English, which was a big help) a woman stepped forward to say she spoke English. Next thing I knew I was on to the correct hotel. Great. Upon arrival, the taxi driver wanted more money (I couldn't blame the guy), but again I did not have any yuans, and the hotel would not make an exchange at that hour. So, I pulled out my smallest bill - $5 - and started to figure out how to break it (the Canadians had given a buck for the initial transfer), when he grabbed the $5 and gestured that this would be plenty. As I started to argue with him, I realized that this amusement park ride was easily worth $5 and let it go at that.
Read MoreI would have settled for that hotel, except I did not want to pay for two hotels that night and I did not want to give up that easily. So, with the help of some Canadians who spoke some Chinese and were kind enough to give the taxi driver the fare because I had not yet exchanged any dollars to yuans, off I went. To another hotel, where the taxi driver gestured that it was definitely the correct place. I grabbed my bags and went to the front desk where no one was able to help me because none of them spoke any English (and I had not a clue where I was in relationship to the correct hotel). That is when I realized I had started my trip around the world.
After me showing them the name of my hotel (in English, which was a big help) a woman stepped forward to say she spoke English. Next thing I knew I was on to the correct hotel. Great. Upon arrival, the taxi driver wanted more money (I couldn't blame the guy), but again I did not have any yuans, and the hotel would not make an exchange at that hour. So, I pulled out my smallest bill - $5 - and started to figure out how to break it (the Canadians had given a buck for the initial transfer), when he grabbed the $5 and gestured that this would be plenty. As I started to argue with him, I realized that this amusement park ride was easily worth $5 and let it go at that.
