Day 1 in Beijing

Finally after about 6 hours of flight, I arrived Beijing International Airport Terminal 3.

When the plane started to descend, all I saw was layers and layers of clouds. The sky was dull and gloomy. The latest temperature reported at the arrival time around 2.30pm was about 11 deg C. All the passengers immediately took out their furry winter coats out from their hand luggage.

I zipped my brown old jacket to fend the coldness.

The frontline staff was the quarantine officers! They were all wearing masks and I submitted my health declaration form. The immigration officers were with mask too. Is the H1N1 virus situation in Beijing very serious?

By the time I reached the taxi-stand, it was about an hour later. The journey to Beijing Henan Plaza Hotel took about an hour. During the first half hour, the traffic was quite smooth. The driver was listening to chinese opera! As we approached the central Beijing, the traffic began to crawl. The locals wore beautiful furry winter coats. I was glad to bring my furry coat too although I do not know when I will be wearing it as most of the time, I would be in the hotel.

This hotel looked posh. The organizer has arranged the participants to stay in the rooms with a PC in it. But I have already brought my laptop. I decided to use my own because I have all my favourite sites.

Dinner was buffet style on chinese food. I could not imagine that I ate a big plate of rice and a plate of dishes with meat and vegetables. After finishing the first round, I ate the second round. I ate 2 bowls of seaweed soup, followed by fruits too. It must be the coldness that made me very hungry.

Temperature reported at 9pm was about 9 deg C and expected to dip to 3 overnight. Rain with snow ie sleet is forecast on the next day.