🌏 Beijing Chronicles: A Rollercoaster Journey 🌏

 My Unforgettable Journey to Beijing

The anticipation of visiting Beijing had always been a dream of mine, and when the opportunity finally arose, I seized it without hesitation.

My adventure began with a three-hour flight from Hong Kong to Beijing's PEK airport, where I  happened to be the sole African passenger on the plane. After swiftly completing the necessary immigration procedures, I found myself eager to reach the heart of the city as quickly as possible, especially since I had no checked luggage.

As I joined the taxi queue, I was assigned a driver who, unfortunately, spoke no English. Our attempts to communicate my hotel address were in vain, and I soon found myself in a bit of a pickle. It was then that I sought assistance from airport staff who kindly tried to bridge the communication gap between me and the driver.

After some effort, we made progress, but there was a new challenge: I didn't have any local currency. I had to venture back into the terminal to use the ATM, and here began another mini-drama. Most of my Western payment cards refused to cooperate, and panic threatened to take hold until, at last, my last card attempt yielded some cash. I raced back to the taxi stand, where my new driver had a passable grasp of English, and our one-hour journey to the city center commenced.

Beijing greeted me with its stunning architectural marvels and surprisingly good air quality, a pleasant contrast to the tales of yesteryears.

Upon reaching my hotel, situated right amid a high-end shopping mall, I began outlining my plans for the upcoming days, with visits to the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City at the top of my list. However, nature had a different plan in store for me.

My intention was to explore the sights on Friday morning before catching my flight back to Hong Kong in the evening. But on Thursday night, an email arrived, bearing the news that my flight had been canceled and rescheduled for Saturday afternoon. Panic set in as Typhoon Saola approached, causing further flight disruptions, and I had a prearranged flight from Hong Kong on Saturday night. My attempts to secure confirmation for my flights proved futile. 

By Friday morning, I had to devise a plan to reach Hong Kong no later than Saturday afternoon. Considering the lengthy train journey, I opted for a flight to Guangzhou, a three-hour trip, hoping to catch a direct train to Hong Kong.

I spent the night at the magnificent Pullman Hotel at the airport and then embarked on a one-hour ride to the rail station, hoping to secure a direct train to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, due to the heavy downpour overnight and the worsening typhoon conditions, train services to Hong Kong remained suspended.

I decided to board a train to Shenzhen, hoping for better luck there. Upon arrival, I found myself in the same predicament—no train services to Hong Kong. It was early afternoon, and my night flight was still on schedule, meaning that missing it was not an option.

In a stroke of luck, I encountered a taxi driver with limited English skills who offered to take me directly to Hong Kong for a rather steep price, which I declined. Instead, I requested that he take me to Shenzhen Bay Port, the nearest point to Hong Kong, hoping to find a bus to my destination.

During the journey, the taxi driver made some calls and managed to arrange a five-seater minibus heading to Hong Kong as soon as we arrived. I finally boarded the minibus with a group of fellow travelers, embarking on our journey to Hong Kong airport. We passed through immigration at both the China and Hong Kong borders, eventually arriving at the airport, my last stop before heading home.

I made it home by 6 pm, with just enough time to collect my luggage, thankfully packed well in advance before my China trip.

Despite the unexpected twists and turns, my adventure was a memorable one. It shattered many preconceived assumptions, and I was touched by the kindness and helpfulness of everyone I encountered along the way.

I look forward to returning to China one day, hoping that nature will be more accommodating on my next visit. Until then, I eagerly anticipate new adventures and discoveries.