Thursday 2nd August
So it is my last few hours in Beijing. I am feeling quite sad as I have really enjoyed my time here. But all good things must come to an end, so we head down to reception for the last time and check out of the hotel. However, I find that I am being charged 15 RMB for the glass I broke the other day. We go on the underground to Xidan station, and head for a Starbucks nearby for breakfast. We linger over this as we are in good time. One can only make one coffee last so long though and at about 11.30am we go to the area where our airport bus departs from. “J” goes to buy the tickets, and we climb on board the bus, which leaves fairly soon afterwards. The domestic departures section of Beijing Airport is crowded but “J” has experience of this place so it is not long before we are seated, it is a while yet before we can check in, out flight is not until about 3.30pm. The next hour or so goes slowly, and at about 1.30pm we join the check in queue, which moves only very slowly. To our disappointment though, when we get to the desk we find we are too early and told to come back later. So we return to our seats for another 30 minutes before returning to the check in queue again. All seems to be going well, passport is checked, luggage checked in, boarding cards given to us. I turn to leave the desk, but “J” calls me back, apparently there is a problem with my suitcase. We go to the area just behind the check in counter, and my suitcase is waiting for me, I am asked to open it. The young female security officer has seen something on the screen that she wants to investigate. Rather baffled we explore my case, and eventually we discover that a bottle of cough medicine, which has been in my luggage all the way from the UK, is causing the problem. Reassured that it isn’t anything dreadful, the officer lets me close my case again, which is then sent of to be loaded. We head for the departure lounge.
There is quite a wait till our flight is called. “J” is quite happy in these situations; he has downloaded a book to his mobile phone so he is constantly dipping into it. In time we are called to the departure gate and once documents are checked we board the bus that will take us to the aircraft. I am delighted to find it is a Jumbo jet, my first time on this type of plane. The flight is quite uneventful, but once again Air China surpasses itself with the food it provides. The screens on the aircraft announce that we will arrive in Guangzhou at 6.30pm and that the temperature is 96F. The plane duly lands on time and it is not long before we are on the bus, heading in to Guangzhou. I am staying in a different hotel this time, the Garden Hotel, and after half an hour the bus drops us outside. It is an imposing modern hotel set back from the main road. Walking into the foyer we are overwhelmed by its grandeur, so much gold about on the frieze behind the reception desk. Being back in Guangzhou “J” will go home, but before he does he makes sure I reach my room safely.
After the splendour of the hotel’s entrance I am somewhat disappointed by the room which is the smallest of the rooms I have stayed in. The windows are closed but I can still hear the noise of the traffic outside, I have brought ear plugs with me so I get them out just in case I need them to sleep later. After showering and changing into clean clothes I venture down to the hotel bar. Not being quite sure what to expect, I tentatively head for the bar and ask for a beer. The polite young lady asks where I would like to sit, to me the stool at the bar seems fine. So I sip my beer slowly, reflecting on my time in Beijing. I am feeling quite hungry now, not having eaten since the Air China meal on the plane. The young lady asks if I would like another beer as she notices my glass is almost empty. I agree and after it is placed in front of me she also places a bowl of nuts, can she read my mind? I look around the various drinks and spirits displayed behind the bar. I notice Glenmorangie whisky, my late father’s favourite tipple. The nuts are rapidly disappearing as is the beer so it is not long before the young lady arrives to ask if I would like another beer. I agree to have just one more but also I have a glass of Glenmorangie, no ice, in memory of dad. The beer and whisky are placed in front of me as well as a bowl of flavoured crisps. In time, the beer and the whisky are finished both bowls are empty too, so it is time to head back to the room. On leaving the bar I find I am being chased by the young lady. I hadn’t realised I should have signed my “tab” before leaving. I am quite tired now, so after watching a little TV I prepare for bed. The noise of the traffic is still loud outside, so as I switch off the light and lay my head on the pillow I reach out for the ear plugs!
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