Tuesday, May 4th and 5th - BEIJING ARRIVAL

At Bangkok airport

Lenny and Geri wore masks to prevent the flu on the airplane

Phil met us at the airport with Roberta's driver Mr Fu

Astri in her kitchen

Geri getting her nails done

View from Brook's apartment

Another view from Brook's apartment

Beijing buildings

Called the "pants" building in Beijing

Eye test

Beijing traffic and no motor bikes

Phil's office

Geri with cousin Ted

Dinner with Ted and his son Jonathan

We had a relaxing final morning at the Marriott hotel starting with a big breakfast as usual. We arranged for a late checkout which allowed us to play gin and watch TV. We then got a limo to the airport. While waiting we got a great video over the internet of Eliana's fist birthday party. Noah helped his sister Eliana blow out the candle on her cake and song happy birthday to her. It was almost as good as being there.

We flew from Phuket to Bangkok on Thai Air (flight 12) and had a 7.5 hour layover in the Bangkok Airport which is huge and very modern.We had to go through three separate security check points with x-rays. Once we got through passport control, we found a Japanese restaurant and ordered a sushi roll to share. Then we asked them if we could stay and use the table to play cards and ordered more food. Those of you who have played gin with Lenny know that he's very hard to beat and after playng for hours in the airport , he was beating me 12 games to 4 - often getting gin after only 2 or 3 cards had been played. It certainly helped us to stay awake so that we could at least get some sleep on the next leg of our journey to Beijing which didn't leave until after 1:30 a.m.

The Air China trip went well (flight 13) as we were able to check in early (hah - only three hours early since no one was at the ticket counter till then) and we were able to get seats together in the exit row. We did get some sleep but not enough. On arrival in Beijing we got off the plane and headed to the baggage area but first we had to go through the infectious control area where we had our temperature taken automatically as we walked up to the guard who checked us through. Our baggage arrived without a hitch and then, there was our cousin's driver and he was with Phil - what a great surprise.

We were so happy to see him and had to remind ourselves that we were all together in Beijing, China - how amazing! Before we knew it, we were on our way to drop Phil off at the hospital and then to meet Astri outside their apartment. They have a wonderful sixth floor apartment with a lovely view. The apartment is roomy and very modern and they have made a good start at making it their home. The kitchen is very spacious and they have two bedrooms and two bathrooms. They live in a huge complex and there is lots of green space, lovely walkways and privacy. It is really beautiful.

Len took a nap and Astri and I walked to a nearby nail salon and I was delighted to see that they were able to do my acrylic nails for me. It was twice as expensive as home and they asked for cash -up front - no credit cards here. Though Phil and Astri have a Chinese debit card, Astri explained that this is mostly a cash society. The young man who did my nails, squated the entire time next to me as I reclined on a comfortable chair with ottoman and he did the entire process without the use of any electronic drills, etc. I was a little nervous about the outcome but he did a great job. He was pleased to have helped me and I was thrilled that I am now set till the end of our trip.

The rest of our day included a cab ride to the southeast part of the city outside of third ring road where we went to buy eyeglasses. Smog is always around as you can see in the city pictures. Glass City is a huge building with many floors of nothing but eye glass shops and Astri had a recommendation to find shop 3-66. I was armed with my prescription but actually had an eye exam and they made an adjustment which I am very pleased with. I go a wonderful pair of glasses for $500.00 less than the price quoted by my opthamologist and Lenny and Astri got a pair as well. The price included the eye exam and since together, we were buying three pairs of glasses, we were able to bargain with them for a further discount! We then took another cab to meet Phil at his office and then had dinner with our cousin, Ted Plafker and his son, Jonathan. Pure Lotus Restaurant was a vegetarian chinese restaurant which had the most amazing menu. We had vegetarian Peking Duck, sweet and sour chicken, bbq ribs, fried rice with vegetables, spinach with a wonderful sauce, special fruit drinks and watermelon for dessert. It was fantastic. Lenny had a hard time eating because the food looked and tasted like the real thing, but it was all veggie. He even liked it after all.

Beijing is a huge busy modern bustling city. The motorcycle traffic of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia have now been replaced by lots of cars, busses, subway transit, real taxi cabs and regular bicycles. The building are amazing in size and structure. You are in a city of the future.
Walking around after dinner we felt very save.

Tomorrow, we are going to go shopping Beijing style. Astri is going to show me where to find high end knockoff purses, we will go to the pearl market, and in the evening we will meet their tailor who is coming to their home to do a fitting for Phil's new suit and to choose fabric for a dress for Astri. I hear that they have a foot massage planned for us as well. What can be better to be with our brother and sister-in-law to help us start the China leg of our trip.