So, China! Hmmm! The flight was actually one of my favorite ones so far. Good stuff! Then I land, expecting to have my airport pick up which I requested TWICE. Waited for 20 mins. at the airport and saw no one with my name...so since it was already past 10pm and I knew buses would stop working soon I jumped on one to the center of the city (Beijing train station) get off expecting to find and ask a taxi to my place....no one knows where I'm going or will even call them for me even though I offer more money. So I walk around some more with the homeless sleeping everywhere around me. Sweating up a storm b/c it is so DAMN hot here, practically crying too b/c at this time it's past midnight and I have no idea what to do. I run and catch the last Subway to the area of my hostel even though I have no map to walk to it and find it since I originally thought I'd be having pickup. And OMG the subways are a joke here...I'll tell you about those later. Get off the subway into Triananon (sp?) square which is closed off and heavily guarded since many where fussing at me walking in the wrong/closed off area. I try asking some of the guards where some taxis are and some just flat out ignore me while others send me on a goose chase. Luckily I walk across this REALLY fancy 5-star hotel...I walk in, sweating, hair a mess, crying, hauling around all my luggage awkwardly since I'm tired and asking for help. They thankfully call, get directions and even call a taxi to explain the directions for me which gets me to my hostel 20 mins. later. Now, it's past one and I am finally allowed to check in......walk into my room (which looks identical to Richards in The Beach when he first stayed in Puket Town...shitty) but it's a bed and I have my own shower. Lucky! So I'm happy. But I woke up refreshed today, took a shower, and I'm good to go. BRING IT ON CHINA!
Got to walk around and ride in a pedi cab, see the main square and the Forbidden palace. Hardly ate anything since I was lost half the time. And me being lost isn't pretty - y'all know me...I pride myself on being good with directions. So, what a day...now I have this girl lurking over shoulder waiting to use the computer even though I just jumped on like 10-15 mins ago. UGH!
I'll update with pictures soon!!!
-love- J
