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August 14, 2008 Beijing CHINA Leaving Beijing on My Return to the United States
It was a 45 minute drive from Shandong Binguan [hotel] to the airport, which was fairly good considering we had to cope with a bit of rush-hour traffic. For those who may not know, only half the cars in Beijing can drive on any given day during the Olympics: today was the day for even numbered license plates. For reference, the cab ride cost me 100 rmb, or roughly $15, which I negotiated yesterday so as to beat the meter. A final taxi ride through Beijing...
Regardless, I found my seat on the flight and spent as much of the 12 hour journey as I could getting sleep and updating this webpage. I will arrive in San Francisco at 8:39 a.m., exactly 3 hours and 21 minutes before I left Beijing (thanks to the international date line.) Otherwise, everyone has been on flights before and there is no need to go over how miserable long ones can be. |
Despite a brief bout of
consciousness at 4:00 a.m., a time when I flipped open
my laptop to watch the final 30 minutes of Arsenal's
Champions League Qualifier against Twente (we won 2-0),
I slept straight through until 7:00 a.m. this morning,
exactly one hour before I arranged for a taxi driver to
take me to terminal 3 of the Beijing International
Airport. Before leaving, I sent off a few last minute
emails, as has become my hourly addiction, then showered
and re-organized the last of my belongings. With one big
suitcase in tow and a backpack slung over my shoulder, I
said goodbye to Anshuo and hopped in the backseat of the
freshly painted Beijing taxi cab. I didn't need to look
at what the driver was wearing because I knew it would be the standard wear worn by all Beijing taxi drivers
during the Olympics: a light yellow button-down shirt
and blue tie.
Beijing's new airport is
very pleasing on the eyes, but it looks like an exact
replica of Hong Kong International Airport. Granted,
HKIA is widely recognized as one of the world's nicest
airports, I will still disappointed Beijing couldn't be
slightly more original in its design - although the
aerial view of the facility is impressive. Then again,
perhaps there are only so many different
interior designs possible for an airport.
I bought a few last minute
presents from the official Beijing Olympics store and
wrote a dozen postcards before checking in at the United
counter for flight UA888, Beijing to San Francisco.
Then, I passed through security and rode the tram to
gate E29 where I watched a few Olympic events on the
television alongside the men's football team. I suppose
it is fitting that they are on the same flight back with
me - I watched them play yesterday - but it was very
surprising nonetheless. I thanked them for their efforts
and wished them each the best of luck before boarding
the plane at the last call; I wanted to be the last one
aboard the flight for reasons even I cannot fully
explain. Perhaps I am reluctant to leave, or more
likely
I just wanted to savor my last few moments, and didn't
think standing in a long line was the best way to do so.