On an unnoticeably normal Saturday, just after lunch, my best mate Richard arrived to take us on the 30 minute drive to London Heathrow airport. As I stepped out of the house, my foot touched the ground and I recalled the old Chinese saying from Lao Tzu, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" - very apt for the start of a 16,000 mile roundtrip to China.
The internet has been scoured, books have been read but most importantly, we set off with open, positive minds, a sense of adventure and smiles all round. For once, even the trials and tribulations of modern-day airport navigation, airline food or jetlag won't dampen our spirits. This is a trip we have wanted to take for the last few years and finally we're doing it. By this time tomorrow we will be in Beijing and our journey will be well and truly started.
Over the next 3 weeks the three of us (my wife, son and I) will travel from Beijing to Hong Kong via Pingyao, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo and Guangzhou using trains, buses and even bicycles here and there. The whole aspect of long distance train travel on Chinas' sleeper trains is likely to be a series of mini adventures, especially having seen videos of the hard sleeper accommodation and the toilet facilities (or lack of by western standards)! But we will get to that in due course ;-) (internet permitting - hoping for access via Kindle 3G).
The first leg of our travels takes us on Emirates from London to Dubai where we have a short stop. Just time enough to stretch our legs, grab a coffee and board the next flight to Beijing. This second flight holds an excitement of its own as it will be our first time on a double-decker Airbus A380. We will be on the lower deck (economy) but even that looks good, with a huge supply of in-flight entertainment to help pass the hours if sleep is elusive.
So, with the scene set, it's time to board the plane and get this trip started....
The internet has been scoured, books have been read but most importantly, we set off with open, positive minds, a sense of adventure and smiles all round. For once, even the trials and tribulations of modern-day airport navigation, airline food or jetlag won't dampen our spirits. This is a trip we have wanted to take for the last few years and finally we're doing it. By this time tomorrow we will be in Beijing and our journey will be well and truly started.
Over the next 3 weeks the three of us (my wife, son and I) will travel from Beijing to Hong Kong via Pingyao, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo and Guangzhou using trains, buses and even bicycles here and there. The whole aspect of long distance train travel on Chinas' sleeper trains is likely to be a series of mini adventures, especially having seen videos of the hard sleeper accommodation and the toilet facilities (or lack of by western standards)! But we will get to that in due course ;-) (internet permitting - hoping for access via Kindle 3G).
The first leg of our travels takes us on Emirates from London to Dubai where we have a short stop. Just time enough to stretch our legs, grab a coffee and board the next flight to Beijing. This second flight holds an excitement of its own as it will be our first time on a double-decker Airbus A380. We will be on the lower deck (economy) but even that looks good, with a huge supply of in-flight entertainment to help pass the hours if sleep is elusive.
So, with the scene set, it's time to board the plane and get this trip started....
Hi all, just want to wish you all good luck!! We're sure your gonna have an absolutely awesome time! Can't wait to read more of your blogs, will be interesting to hear about every where you've been, hope you get time to send us some pics too. Hope you all have a great time on your big chinese adventure & all we can say is, we wish we were there with you!!! X
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