Tibet 1998 Diary: The Beginning

Saturday/Sunday, August 15/16, 1998 This was mostly a travel day (or two days, as we crossed the International Date Line). Most of us rendezvoused at the gate in the Vancouver Airport, some having been in Vancouver, the rest connecting from Toronto, Winnipeg, or Calgary. The Canadian Airlines flight was very smooth, and we arrive at the chaotic Beijing Airport in the middle of a hot and humid afternoon. We are met by our National Guide, Jampa Tenzin, who has come from Lhasa, and has our Tibet travelling papers, and by our Beijing local guide, Zhang Fung Li (Jessica). She had the rest of our group with her. Angela Vuchnich, and Richard and Lois Dodds had arrived four days earlier for some extra time in China, and were just returning from a happy visit to Xian. Our first stop after the airport is a local restaurant, where we have a very good Chinese-food dinner. Then we are off to the Beijing Opera! This turns out to be great fun: exquiste costumes, singing, dancing, mime, juggling and acrobatics. Some of us, unfortunately, are a little tired from the long flight(s), and perhaps 'miss' a few moments of the performance. After the performance, we finally go to our hotel, the Beijing International; a modern, western-style hotel, and very comfortable. And quickly to bed. Beijing is a very modern city, but also very big - both in area and population, and traffic is a problem. No trucks are allowed on the major roads or in the downtown area during the day. This means that there is a lot of construction activity taking place during the nighttime. Also, small cars are restricted in the downtown area according to their license plates: cars with odd(even) license plates are only permitted on odd(even) numbered weekdays! Next: Sightseeing in Beijing Main Tibet 1998 Diary Page