Beijing -> Hong Kong

The boarding system here is a bit different. You get several flights assigned to one gate, and when you arrive at the gate, it's this huge waiting area with six different doors, none actually leading directly to an airplane. Instead, you board a bus, which will presumably take you to your plane.

One sucky thing about this airport: no free wifi :( You have to pay, and though I am bored, I am also cheap. But other than that, it's sort of nice: sleek and well-designed. Nothing too fancy but good enough. Too cheap to walk around and buy stuff, though, so I'm currently curled up in a chair, eating bread that I bought on-campus last night.

Taxi fare was really expensive (101 RMB -- that's more than what I've allotted myself for each day!). I am definitely going to investigate how to use the airport shuttle to go to school after I get back.

I'm not new to air travel. I've lost track of exactly how often I've flown, but at least fifteen times if you're counting both domestic and international flights (~thirty if you count the return trip separately). Each airport has its quirks, of course, but the basic drill is the same: customs, check-in + baggage, inspection, waiting, boarding. However, I've mostly flown in the company of seasoned travellers. This is only the second time I've flown without someone who knows what he's doing.

The first time, we were heading to the US -- I was twelve and with my two brothers. My older brother, then fifteen, took care of things and I didn't have to worry about silly things like passports and papers ;P. The airline had to be alerted (by law?) that we were a group of minors, and also kept an eye on us, so we didn't get into trouble. Come to think of it, that trip was motivated by medical reasons as well....

Anyway! So this is the first time I've travelled alone, and I must be honest: I really suck at this. I move too slowly for the brisk, efficient airport folks who are trying to get me out of the way so they can process the entire line behind me; I got the departure card form mixed up with the customs form and had to queue back up; I forget crucial things like an adaptor so I can leech of airport electricity charge my laptop; my passport has fallen to the ground several times, aiyayay. But things are not entirely lost. I made it to the boarding gate with all my papers in order (I think), and I am more than an hour early, so no stress/rushing.

One cute thing about the Beijing airport is that it has this system where you rate the airport inspector/worker who's doing your papers. The scale is from "Very satisfied" (hen man yi) down to, "Not satisfied at all". There are smileys even. They're cute! I think that they're training up their personnel to be quick and efficient in preparation for the Olympics.


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So right now I'm in Hong Kong, waiting for the flight. Free internet; I love it. Bumming, lazy, etc. Tempted to get up and find something to drink, but I might as well just wait for refreshments in the airplane (did I mention that I was cheap? :)) Three hours until I get home! (An hour until the flight leaves, two hours on the plane.) Whee!