Our alarm was set for 6.30 am this morning although hubby and I were awake about 5.30 ish. Not sure why hubby was awake, but for me, whenever I have something important to do, I worry I will oversleep.
Today we have to leave our room by 8.30 am to be on the bus. We are flying to Beijing today!
I’ve made tea and showered. I start to get dressed as my worse nightmare happens! The night before we had to take our clothes out for today as our cases had to be out by 10.30 pm. In my head I’ve taken out shorts, vest top, bra and pants. Now dressing what I’ve actually taken out is 2 vest tops, shorts and bra!
I cannot believe it. I checked it twice last night. I’m usually so careful. I check with reception but my case is already at the airport. It’s not good, I’ll have to go commando!
Hubby looks at me and my shorts! He doesn’t think it’s a good idea so offers to take one for the marital team! He gives me his underwear! My hero!
Now, as I grew up, my mum always said my underwear should always match. I mean, what if you had to go to hospital. Since then, I always make sure I’m suitably dressed! Today though, needs must!
I look in the mirror and feel a little bit like Mr Bean! I can’t help but laugh!
The plan is, as soon as we get to the airport we go shopping, either for hubby or me!
It’s absolutely lashing with rain as we leave. I hope it improves for Beijing.
We arrive at the airport and quickly check out the shopping. It’s not looking good. We have 10 minutes until we need to be at our gate and ready to board! We have to accept that hubby is going to have to stay commando! Then we see it. Is it a mirage? Thankfully no! There is in front of us a Victoria Secret. I quickly run in and bought a pair of pants.
We have 5 minutes so I run to the ladies and change and swap with hubby! Phew! He really is my hero today. One of the many reasons why I love him so much.
We board the plane. As we arrived at the airport we were handed 2 very large lunch boxes. Probably 30 cm square each, from the same restaurant we are at last night.
On board, we open them and wow, so much food. The sandwich was 5 layers! A pot of what looked like sausage rolls but sweeter, a punnet of cherry tomatoes, almond Croissant, 3 slices of a sponge slice and a banana. Just as we opened it the air hostess came round and gave us a bag of food too, with a bottle of water.
I currently feel like I’m going to pop with food. I eat some of it but a lot is left.
On the way to airport our guide Terry had told us about his childhood. The struggle and sacrifice his parents made to give him and his brother a good life. I felt so guilty that I had food here that could help a family out. If you have read my previous blogs, you will know how I like to help the homeless out. Now I felt even worse. I might not be rich, but I have a lot more than some, and I’m so humbled.
The flight is very quick. Less than 2 hours. It is actually very comfortable.
What Viking do well is making travel easy! Our luggage is always taken care of, so we only have the look after ourselves. It takes all the stress out of it.
When we land it’s raining again! Seriously, it needs to do one!
We are still going to do a tour so are praying the rain eases, which it does. First we visit a bell tower. It’s only rung once a year for Chinese New Year.
Opposite is a beautiful chinese building.
Inside the bell tower, we get a tea tasting experience. I’d been to the presentation on the ship on tea, but this was actually tasting the tea.
The lady doing it was so funny and the whole experience was really good fun.
She explained why the tea was so expensive, so now I understand why it seemed expensive on the ship.
After the taster you could buy the teas. I love my tea, but I’m still struggling to pay so much for it.
We then walk down the back streets. It’s so narrow and I’m intrigued. We suddenly arrive at someone’s house.
Terry jokes that the owner looks like Jackie Chan and he does. We sit in is lounge while he tells us his story. He has birds in his yard that are taking away in chinese. It’s really fascinating.
When you see how they love, you can’t help wondering how they cope when temperatures drop!
The owner was so lovely and it was an enjoyable visit.
We then take an early dinner.
On the third floor (our second floor) we were treated to another chinese banquet and a new beer – U8.
The group we have been with for the last 2 weeks mostly come from different parts of America. We are loving hearing all their stories and getting to know each other.
After another meal where I feel like a beached whale we head to our hotel. It’s 6.30 pm and the traffic is bad, but it gives us a chance to look at the buildings.
We finally reach Kerry Hotel and get our room key. Our cases are already in our room. As we open the door we wonder what it will be like.
I’ll be honest, we were disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still an amazing room. I’m currently laying on the fabulous grey chaise lounge writing this! It’s the bath that disappoints. The previous 2 hotels has a free standing. This is still really nice, we have just been spoilt so much.
On the other hand, the toilet is something else! It’s all electronic. You can even have a sit down shower and dry, if you know what I mean!
Tomorrow we have a 5 am start, so we have pooped to a local shop and picked up some wine and beers to drink in our room. Tomorrow the Great Wall awaits us !
Slimminginspirations4u 