We landed in Beijing and the plane taxied...over bridges...across major runways...forever...to the gate. We strolled off the plane, down the hallway, farther down the hallway, even farther yet...to the train. We took the train around the airport...over bridges...through terminals...where we got off and walked...and walked...and walked to baggage claim. Yes, the airport is vast and you get a nice walk on the way to collect your luggage and get to the taxi stand!
We've used "points" to reserve our room in the Haidian District at a great place called aloft. It has a hip, trendy feel - yet nice for families. We like the game area with billiards table, foos ball, board games, wii, and computer banks. Across the lobby is a self-service snack area - affordably priced beverages, sandwiches, fruit and other small snacks. There is a small pool and workout room as well. Great staff and a relaxing, low key atmosphere.
Though forewarned about the air quality, were still shocked to see the haze in the sky Tuesday morning. Actually, compared to today (Wednesday) Tuesday was quite clear. So again we are in a place where you cannot drink the water, and it seems that soon you will not be able to breathe the air. Where is our power as humans to change this? The major contributors to the pollution mostly live here - are they used to it? Do they think it is not so bad? As the highest life form why do we allow our living conditions to deteriorate to this level? What does this say about us as a human race? What does this say about our survival?
Okay, enough on global issues. If you are ever here you should see the Chaoyang Acrobat Show. These performers are quite unbelievable! Amazing feats of balance and flexibility, great costumes and a never-seen-before level of stage lighting. We spent a lovely hour visiting the panda exhibit at the zoo. They are just the cutest animals! We had a nice family chat about what makes them more attractive and endearing than other bears - is it their cuteness? Their vulnerability? The human qualities they exhibit when eating, sleeping, or playing? After the pandas we taxied to the east gate of The Forbidden City where...the camera failed us and we had to go to...film. Remember film? It doesn't download to the computer, and you have to guess as to what exactly you are photographing as you peer through a tiny square to try to frame the photo.
More later on The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and Chairman Mao, it is time to pack for our trip to the Great Wall, then a train to Xian to see the Terracotta Warriors. Oh, and the camera is working again - all spiffed up with a new battery and a new memory card.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Lucy On Asia
Faithful followers of the blog might have noticed that Hal's parents, Lucy and Hal Sr. (aka Luli and Gumps), joined the Phillips Vietnam Adventure for awhile. On February 22, we got to Ho Chi Minh City after 2 days in Tokyo, where our highlight was the 5:30 am tuna auction at the world's biggest fish market. We were wide awake at 4 am, so why not?! (Had breakfast at McDonalds, the only thing open so early.)
Spent 3 days in HCMC, getting used to the time change and the HEAT, lolling in the pool at the apt. complex and having wonderful Vietnamese food. Then we flew 1000 miles north to Hanoi on the first of the side-trips that Hal Jr. had arranged. From there we drove to Halong Bay--seeing lots of rice paddies, small towns and HUGE factories--for an overnight cruise. Back in HCMC, we rested (and saw the water puppets one night), then flew to Dalat. It's in the central highlands and cooler, so Hal Sr. played his only round of Asian golf. After a pit-stop in HCMC, the whole family went to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat. Even hotter there! But our Sofitel was cool and lovely, and a nice driver took us three times to the amazing temples.
The Vanderlips then returned to HCMC while we went to Bangkok for 4 days. Hal had reserved all our hotels in Viet Nam, but we found our own in Tokyo and Bangkok. The Old Bangkok Inn was almost too funky: our bed was in a loft, so we had to climb stairs in the night, etc. But we were too lazy to move, and the place grew on us...We saw the city with guides and by ourselves. Besides its gorgeous architecture, we especially remember the crazy canal boats, the birthstone ring we bought for my 70th birthday, and a riverside dinner with two friends from college. One is Thai, the other an American who's lived in Thailand 40 years.
After Thailand, we spent a day in HCMC: so nice to rest and feel taken care of! Then we went to Hue and Hoi An, our last destinations. In Hue, the imperial capital, Jim Sullivan showed us the famous tombs and also a new office for Mandarin Media. We went on our own to the Citadel, then had dinner with Jim and his wife. Next day, we took a train to Danang, through mountains to the sea, then drove to Hoi An. We stayed at the Life Resort, my favorite. (All our Vietnamese hotels were lovely--esp the ones harking back to French times--but the Life Resort was so simple and quiet...Maybe I was just getting TIRED!)
Back to HCMC from Hoi An, we got ready to fly home and had our last dinner with the Ketts, who'd just arrived. We had 4 days seeing old friends around LA and got to Boston March 22. Now we are back in our "comfy rut" culling photos and wondering how we actually made that wonderful trip! We never would have managed it without Hal and Sharon--and it was such fun to see them in HCMC, with Silas and Clara, all having such a good time there. What a great experience it's been...
Spent 3 days in HCMC, getting used to the time change and the HEAT, lolling in the pool at the apt. complex and having wonderful Vietnamese food. Then we flew 1000 miles north to Hanoi on the first of the side-trips that Hal Jr. had arranged. From there we drove to Halong Bay--seeing lots of rice paddies, small towns and HUGE factories--for an overnight cruise. Back in HCMC, we rested (and saw the water puppets one night), then flew to Dalat. It's in the central highlands and cooler, so Hal Sr. played his only round of Asian golf. After a pit-stop in HCMC, the whole family went to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat. Even hotter there! But our Sofitel was cool and lovely, and a nice driver took us three times to the amazing temples.
The Vanderlips then returned to HCMC while we went to Bangkok for 4 days. Hal had reserved all our hotels in Viet Nam, but we found our own in Tokyo and Bangkok. The Old Bangkok Inn was almost too funky: our bed was in a loft, so we had to climb stairs in the night, etc. But we were too lazy to move, and the place grew on us...We saw the city with guides and by ourselves. Besides its gorgeous architecture, we especially remember the crazy canal boats, the birthstone ring we bought for my 70th birthday, and a riverside dinner with two friends from college. One is Thai, the other an American who's lived in Thailand 40 years.
After Thailand, we spent a day in HCMC: so nice to rest and feel taken care of! Then we went to Hue and Hoi An, our last destinations. In Hue, the imperial capital, Jim Sullivan showed us the famous tombs and also a new office for Mandarin Media. We went on our own to the Citadel, then had dinner with Jim and his wife. Next day, we took a train to Danang, through mountains to the sea, then drove to Hoi An. We stayed at the Life Resort, my favorite. (All our Vietnamese hotels were lovely--esp the ones harking back to French times--but the Life Resort was so simple and quiet...Maybe I was just getting TIRED!)
Back to HCMC from Hoi An, we got ready to fly home and had our last dinner with the Ketts, who'd just arrived. We had 4 days seeing old friends around LA and got to Boston March 22. Now we are back in our "comfy rut" culling photos and wondering how we actually made that wonderful trip! We never would have managed it without Hal and Sharon--and it was such fun to see them in HCMC, with Silas and Clara, all having such a good time there. What a great experience it's been...
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