This morning we are off to see "The Great Wall". Did I mention how cold it is here and I did not bring any winter clothes. It will be especially cold near the Great Wall since it is in the mountains.

Rickshaw Ride thru Hutong Neighborhood

Tea Tasting at Pongs Palace Garden

Lunch at Sezchaun Resturant

The Emperor's Royal Chambers

Inside the Forbidden City

New Road Construction Project

New Illinois Tollway Toll Plaza ? Where is the Blago sign?

Beijing City Wall

First Day in Beijing

Well people we made it to Beijing, China yesterday after a 13 hour flight from O'hare. Our route took us over the North Pole and I thought I saw a rather large red suited fellow being pulled on a giant sled by 8 or 9 reindeer. I tell you Christmas is getting celebrated earlier and earlier every year. Anyway we checked in to our hotel had dinner an were in bed and asleep by 9:00 PM (China Time). The time difference is 13 hours so as I'm writing this it's 4 am your time. Today we visited Tiananmen Square (the largest square of its kind in the world, even bigger than Red Square in Russia) and the Forbidden City. Currently a lot of the buildings are being renovated but there is enough that as you walk around you feel as though you could be an extra in the movie "The Last Emperor". After the Forbidden City we had lunch at a famous restaurant call "Seczhuan Restaurant" The food was very good and very spicy. They pictures of famous people who have eaten there such as Dung Cho Peng, Hilary Clinton, and a few other. After that we enjoyed a bicycle rickshaw ride through one of Beijings Hutong neighborhoods and had the chance to actually visit a resident inside his compound. Tonight we will see some Chinese Acrobats and have dinner. A very odd thing happened to me this morning as I walked out the elevator. I was wearing my University of Arizona baseball cap when a gentleman of Chinese descent asked me was that an Arizona hat. I said yes. We started talking and it turns out we both went there at the same time. He graduated the year I was a freshman and he said he still lives in Tucson, Arizona. That's all for now. Tomorrow we see "The Great Wall"

Cruise Route Map

Brian's Itinerary

Monday, October 29,2007

From: Chicago Ohare, IL Departs: 12:38 PM
Monday, Oct 29

To: Beijing, China Arrives: 3:05 PM
Tues, Oct 30

Day Date Port/Place Arrive Depart
Wed Oct 31 Beijing/Presidential Palace Hotel
Thu Nov 1 Full day Tour Great Wall & Summer Palace
Fri Nov 2 Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square
Transfer to Xingang to embark ship at 7PM
Sat Nov 3 At sea
Sun Nov 4 Naqasaki,Japan 10AM 6PM
Mon Nov 5 At Sea
Tue Nov 6 Shanghai,China 7AM 6PM
Wed Nov 7 At Sea
Thu Nov 8 Okinawa,Japan 7AM 4PM
Fri Nov 9 Taipei,Taiwan 9AM 6PM
Sat Nov10 At Sea
Sun Nov11 Hong Kong,China 8AM 6PM
Mon Nov12 At Sea
Tue Nov13 Nha Tranq,Vietnam 9AM 6PM
Wed Nov14 Vung Tau,Vietnam 7AM 7:30PM
Thu Nov15 At Sea
Fri Nov16 Singapore 8AM 5PM
Sat Nov17 At Sea
Sun Nov18 Laem Chabang,Thailand 7AM
Transfer to Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok
Mon Nov19 Shangri-La Hotel
Tue Nov20 Shangri-La Hotel
Wed Nov21 Flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong 11:30AM 3:25P
Wed Nov21 Flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles
4:25p 12:55p
Wed Nov21 Los Angeles to Chicago 3:50p 9:50p
Nov 21 is going to be the longest day of my life.