The Beijing Experience

This was quite the last minute opportunity. Was sent to Beijing on a work trip for an event there. Many firsts. First time applying for China visa. First time to China. First time taking a non-direct flight. First time flying to a suitably far place on my own. First time rooming with a colleague whom I've just met once. Hmm. Feels like school camp, all over again. Hahaa.

Thankfully, was booked on a Malaysian Airline flight so I got comfort plus food. Only drawback. The four hour wait in between.

RM9 kopi at KLIA to pass time

to Beijing, woOohOo!

Aisle seat for me, all the way. This way, am free to go toilet anytime without bothering anyone. Yay.

dinner

Arrived at Beijing T3 around after midnite, and my fellow colleagues travelling via AirAsia were at T2 20 minutes after mine. Beijing International Airport, specifically T3 was nice. Huge space. Spent some 15~20 minutes waiting for my luggage. -_-'''

Then, waited like another 10 minutes to take the airport shuttle to T2 which by now runs at 30 mins interval. All this while, was inhaling large volume of ciggy smoke as everyone seemed to be smoking there. Found out that T2 and T3 aint exactly near. Took about 10~15 mins bus ride before it reached.


Reunited with colleagues from KL HQ, only to find out that T2 taxi stand has a long stretch of passengers waiting for taxi. -_-'''

Then, we were approached by a guy who offered us a ride in his private car. Ok. Our encounter with the notorious black market taxi that coincidentally was in the news recently. My colleagues decided to risk it, and thus we were asked to follow them. Quite dangerous, come to think of it.

Anyway, the price was ¥300 (~SGD61) per cab and we were split into two cabs as their private car couldn't fit all our luggages plus barang barang for the exhibition.

These are young chaps, probably not more than 26 years old. Our driver revealed that he sleeps during the day and drives at night. Normal metered cab fare would've costs somewhere around ¥100~¥200.

Our driver had to rely on his GPS because he has never heard of our hotel name nor of the address. He ended up having to work abit harder for the extra ¥100 since we were lost somewhere along the way, and had to circle the same area twice before we managed to find the right way to our hotel.

Guess we were lucky because he did send us safely to the hotel, plus helped us with our luggages upon reaching the destination. =)

our hotel

twin sharing

bathroom

The Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan was pretty modern, comfortable and clean. Just don't expect fluent English speakers nor bell-boy services.

Beijing night weather was nice, cooling at 18~19 degrees celcius. Went out for supper at nearby congee and noodles fast food shop, then slept at about 4am and our next day started around 830am.