7th/8th. To China, and Beijing! Flight count: 2.

First annoyance was that I had to get a rush-hour coach to Heathrow... resulting in slight worry
when the traffic hadn't been moving on the M25 for like half an hour.. though National Express people tend to know what they are talking about in terms of timing so I did arrive with some time to spare to look arond duty free.. And not afford anything :(
Boarding for the Frankfurt was earlier than expected which made me optimistic about the efficiency of airlines. Oh how I was disappointed.. the flight left over an hour late than was planned. However, this wasf due to the random downpours of rain that occured at Heathrow airport. Ugh, England weather.

And omgosh, Frankfurt airport is huuuuge! Had to walk for ages before I got to my next gate, and that was only after I realised I'd gotten to the wrong gate area initially -___- Most of the airport was like a ghost town, actually ;s I was sat next to two other chinese people on the long haul flight to beijing. A lady called Becca from Leeds and man who was going to Beijing for business. It's wierd, after only a few hours of being together you somewhat feel some kind of attachment with your neighbours on a long haul flight. I was also the youngest on my row so it was weird just mixing with people who had a good few years on me, somewhat eye-opening. Food consisted of pretzels, chicken and rice for dinner;and omelette for breakfast. And it wouldn't be flying if you don't take advantage of the free alcohol :D Sparkling wine plspls. The film selection was rather poor. 17 Again: it was just wrong on so many levels. And a chinese romcom "Give Love" which falls into the huge category of chinese films based on fate/love. Entertaining enough anyways. Oh, and why rollercoasters when you can get aircraft turbulence?! Definitely woke me up :P When we'd landed in Beijing in the morning, the Swine Flu Squad came. Armed with thermometer guns and Converse bags. In all their black and white glory (the bags matched..!). Luckily no quarantining was done. We also had to fill in a form about our health, like whether we'd been coughing, had a sore throat or a blocked nose (all of which I had had on the flight but we shall omit details). Surely they should realise that there is a HUGE psychological flaw in these forms in that NO ONE is going to admit to having these possile swine flu symptoms in the fear of being kept behind. Fail.

Not even had I gotten out of the airport was I reminded that in China, most stuff is worth overdoing. Such as an underground train system WITHIN THE AIRPORT. And one better than the real underground in beijing x) They say it's really nice and mild n Beijing today. I still feel like that it is uncomfortably warm and humid. Which means I may die of heat later on at some point.

Not a lot has changed at my grandparent's. Still watching the same Taiwanese TV series as last time I was here.. a year ago. Except the plot has become stupidly long and complex and it's on it's way into the 400 or so episodes? Apparantly chinese mafia is a intricate one.

Spent lots of time organising tours and stuff today. Had one tour company all done, except at the end where they decide to inform me that they aren't taking on foreign tourists because..of swine flu. Arg, it's so bloody ridiculous! Some guy was wearing some Jack Wills stylee pyjama bottoms today, and I reallly wanted to go ask him if they were actually JW. But then I thought.. I would save myself the humility. Oh, and I scarily reminded that to cross roads successfully in the China, is to jay walk.

Things I saw today that you will only see in China

1. Crocs... in the shape of actual crocodiles... on a grown woman.
2. Women going out to the supermarket in dresses and (albeit not towering) heels
3. "LITTLE CUTTY PRINCESS" Tshirt
4. "MY NAME IS BEAUTIFUL" Tshirt