vdtoorn.nl - Story of our trip from Beijing to Hongkong

Story of our trip from Beijing to Hongkong

Day 1: Flying from Amsterdam to Frankfurt to Beijing

After we watered the plants for the last time, and programmed the watering computer for the garden, we left around 11:30 by car. Half an hour later, we were in the parking garage in Leiden, and again half an hour later, expecting us at 12:30 as well, we were in time in the departure hall at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. There we got the ticket by a Koning Aap employee who told us we were the last to arrive at Schiphol. At the check-in counter, we could just meet Loes en Ivo, a couple about our age.

This time we did not even exceeded the baggage maximum, as we only managed to pack 22 kilo' for the both of us.

We went through passport control and got our last euro's from the ATM machines. With the euro's and the 100 American Dollar (in 5 dollar notes voor only 91 Euro) we should be able to make. In China we could use the ATM machines in the bigger cities.

We drank a last coffee in a restaurant and walked to the gate where we met Bart-Jan and Nienke from Hoofddorp. They told us about the information meeting where they had gone to and exchanged some of our expectations about China. Half an later we could board the plane and a bit later than expected we left for Frankfurt. It was a short flight with a window seat and with a first tomato juice as a drink. It is so strange that you never drink tomato juice at home, but once you're in a plane it seems that everybody is drinking tomato juice.

Arriving in Frankfurt, we had to wait for a little longer than an hour and we spent most of that time at the gate, after remembering that the toilets in the plane would actually be smaller (and dirtier) than the once at the airport. The plane was already parked at the gate. Finally a good-old Boeing 747 with the extra floor for first class. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a window seat, so we got seats near the isle on the middle row. The space for your legs was also less than on the previous flight. Around 17:25 we finally left for Beijing.

Dinner was served quite early already, and we could choose between chicken or spaghetti, garnished with the usual bit of camembert. Additionally, we got to minipacks of some yoghurt and some mini cake for dessert. The mini salad with exquisite dressing completed our dinner. A very decent two-choice dinner. The remainder of the flight was quite okay, although we couldn't fall asleep. Just closed our eyes for half an our, to be awake for some time again. Once in a while you could see on the television screen where you were, how cold it was, and how long the journey still was.