Day 1 - Sunday July 30. 2017
Oslo - Beijing
Then it was time for a new vacation. This time not with the guys, but with my brother and his girls.
I got ready with my packing and then I was picked up a little past 11:00. We drove to Oslo airport and parked the car and then we took the shuttle bus to the terminal. Thereafter we checked in, but the machine would not give us luggage nor boarding card, so we had to queue to get it manually. Fortunately, there were no problems doing that. Then we went through the security check, which also went pretty smoothly without problems.
Then we just had to find the gate and wait for boarding. After the usual waiting, we could board the plane. The plane was barely half full and now it was ready for departure. The trip down to Amsterdam went without any problems. Then we had to go from one terminal to the other where the plane to Beijing departed. We had plenty of time and had no trouble getting there. We even had time to shop a little.
We queued to enter the plane and almost got through, when everything suddenly halted. They had discovered a problem with the air-conditioning facility on board. After a wait to see if they could fix the ac facility, the message came that they would start boarding again but without having solved the problem. However, they had discovered what the problem was and aiming for it to loosen as soon as the plane got on it wings. We boarded an older Boing 777 and hoped the best. And thankfully the ac started to work.
We had dinner aboard, and as usual the selection was a little limited when it came back us as some of the last persons. After dinner it took surprisingly long before they turned off the lights so everything could calm down and we could go to sleep.
Day 2 - Monday July 31. 2017
Beijing - Summer palace
Two hours before arrival, ie 7:00 pm Beijing time, the lights came on and it was time for breakfast. However, it took an hour before breakfast actually came to us. Then we just had to prepare for landing and the paper mill to enter China. The flight landed, we got through passport control and immigration and then we suddenly were through.
There was an older Chinese lady waiting for us with a driver. The lady turned out to be Nancy and our guide in Beijing. We stepped into a minibus and were then driven to the hotel Beijing Dongfang Hotel, where we were going to stay during our stay in Beijing. At the hotel we checked in and went to our room. It wasn't until we had our first excursion to the Summer Palace, but at least we had time to take a shower and change clothes.
The whole group of 8 people gathered in the lobby, there were two families with four people from each and then we went to the Summer Palace. We walked around in the area with a stop here and there where Nancy explained about what we saw. She was even made sure that we took family pictures with her as the photographer. It was hot and a little sun, but with a lot of smog. So all of us soon became hot and sweaty. After getting through, we left with the minibus to the Houhai district in old Beijing. Here we sat in bicycle rickshaws and were driven around in the area. In addition, we had a stop where we visited a typical Chinese home in a house from the 17th century. Ie house and house, it were actually four small houses with a small courtyard in the middle.
After the end of the rickshaw trip, we ended up in a area called Nanluoguxiang. This was at the North Sea in the city and where the merchant center for trading from river boats earlier had been. We had a small trip into a residential street where she showed us how to see the status of the family who lived inside. Including a house with a military official.
The last part of the tour was in Beihai Park, where we did a short walk through the park. Now most of us had become quite tired after a long day with little to no sleep at all on the plane, and then a long walk in the heat. (Even the other family was Norwegian and had arrived with a previous flight from Amsterdam.)
After ending the trip we took a new shower and then went out to get some food. We chose a restaurant close to the hotel where we had some different dishes to try some different. The food tasted very good. Luckily it was not a long the walk back to the hotel. Not much was done before we all had went to bed and probably all snored.
Day 3 - Tuesday August 1. 2017
Beijing - The Forbidden City
This day we once again would do a tour in Beijing. We got up at 7:00, freshened up and then we were ready for breakfast. We went down and started the breakfast and eventually the girls arrived as well. After breakfast, we picked out what we would need for a long day's walk. We gathered in the reception and departed as agreed at 08:30.
The first stop was Tiananmen Square. But it turned out that the whole area was closed due to political visit to the parliament. That's why we didn't see too much of the square. Thus we re-entered the minibus who transported us down to the Forbidden City. We could probably walked instead, but this way we would ease past both sellers and the queue. On the other hand, we only had a short walk from to the southern gate which is the main entrance to the area. There are 80,000 people visiting the Forbidden City every day and the day we arrived there were a lot of people as well.
As in the Summer Palace, we walked through the Forbidden City with some stops along the way, where Nancy explained and showed us things about the place. It was more smog this day, but still hot and clammy.
After the Forbidden City, we continued on foot to the next attraction, which was Jingshan Hill. This is a park area close to the Forbidden City, including the highest point of the city. (At least before the high buildings began to be built.) We walked up to the top and got a good view of the Forbidden City and a large parts of Beijing.
After Jingshan Hill we got back in the bus and drove to the restaurant where we had lunch. We was served a small selection of different dishes. And most were good. After lunch we proceeded to Temple of Heaven.
At Temple of Heaven we began to walk through the areas, with the Circular Mound Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. As usual with stops along the way with explanations of our guide Nancy.
Then we left the temple area and stopped at a state-owned tea house just at the outside. Here we was presented with some different Chinese teas and could taste them. Then there was sales. As the only one in the group, I bought some tea.
After Temple of Heaven and the tea house we drove back to the hotel, but only after having let off the other family on a motorcycle show. At the hotel we took a shower and then we resembled again in the reception. Together with Nancy and her colleague Ken, we went to a Hotpot restaurant. It was a short walk to do which Ken led. We finished the day with a dinner and had Nancy and Ken as guests, which was very nice. The food was good, even though it became a little too special for the girls. After dinner we went back to the hotel, bought some fruit on the way just before the fruit shop closed, said goodbye to Nancy and Ken and then just went to bed.
Day 4 - Wednesdag August 2. 2017
Beijing - The Chinese Wall
This day it was as usual in the morning with morning routine and breakfast before we were ready to leave at 08:00. We got into the minibus and went off. We had two and a half hours drive to the great wall. And on the road, Nancy used the opportunity to explain a little about the great wall and the other things.
On the way we had a stop at a jade factory. Inside we got a quick review of the process of making shapes, as well as an introduction to the different types of jade. In the end, of course, it was the usual stop at the shopping center, where there was a lot of offers ...
Then we drove on to the great wall itself. We did not walk all the stairs up - about 1750, but instead took the gondola to the top at a guard tower. From here we could walk in either eastern or western direction at least another 8 watch towers. We chose to go westward, because in the eastern direction it would be a long steep slope when going back. We went to the 4th watch tower a little up and down and then we turned and went back again. Some of us even went to the 1st watch tower in the eastern direction before the steep slope began.
This section of the great wall was repaired several times and was a new section compared to those both Erik and I earlier had visited. On the way back down we had an ice cream and then got in the gondola down. The Gondola 56 we sat in turned out to be the same wagon that Michelle Obama used when she was visiting the great wall in 2014.
From the gondola we walked down the final part of the stairs and then down to the restaurant where Nancy was waiting. Here we ate lunch. After lunch we went down to the minibus and drove back to Beijing.
In Beijing, we stopped at Tiananmen Square. Since we didn't do the tour in the morning the day before, we had time to do it now instead. We strolled a around the square with some stops where Nancy explained about the Great Hall of the People (the Parliament), the Historical Museum and Mao Zedong Mausoleum.
Then we drove back to the hotel, but Erik and the girls stepped off at a shopping mall. Well back I took a shower and rested a little. Now it had started to rain. When Erik and the girls were getting back to the hotel it rained. They had tried to get a cab, but it was impossible. But they stopped a motorized tuk-tuk and drove back with it all three of them. It had been a little difficult to explain where they were going, but with a detour they eventually got back to the hotel. However, this had taken time so they were not back in the hotel at 8:30 pm when we had agreed to assemble for dinner.
After a quick change of clothes, however, they were soon ready to once again enter into the rain for a walk to the restaurant where we would eat Pekingand. Now we were all 8 in the group as well as Nancy. Although it was not a long walk and we used umbrellas, we still got wet in the rain.
We had tasted duck the first night too, but this one was probably a step up or two. Nancy showed us how to eat it and then we all enjoyed our food another evening. In the end, we rushed back home through the rain, which surprisingly still was coming down. Well home we got out of wet clothes and just said goodnight.
Day 5 - Thursday August 3. 2017
Beijing - Xi'an
We got up in the morning and had the usual morning routine. This morning we packed all our belongings and could check out after breakfast. After the check-out we met Nancy and drove out to the Western Station - the western train station in Beijing. From here we would take the high speed train to Xi'an, which would do most of the day.
At the station, we got into a queue in the heat - 32-34 degrees - and after a while got to the ticket control. At the same time, there was a group of Chinese who tried to dump into the queue, but then Nancy clearly stood up. There was a loud mouthshed and almost a fight, but the end of it was that the Chinese were shown away by the operators. We got into the station and came to the waiting hall of the platform where our train would leave. We lined up again and waited to get down to the platform. Eventually we could go down to the platform and enter the train. Erik and I were at the forefront who were not the best places, but...
Nancy who had followed us all the way into the train, said goodbye, and then we were on our way to Xi'an where we would meet a new guide. The train drove off and had a speed at more than 300 km at certain stretches, but even had a few stops along the way. Most of the time, we spent just relaxing. Outside, the flat landscape fled past miles after miles, but eventually it began to get a bit more hilly with some smaller hills.
After almost 6 hours on the train, we arrived at Xi'an where it was 37 degrees and staring sun. We came out of the train area and met our new guide Cassie. We went out to the awaiting minibus and were then driven to the hotel - Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel - where we were going to stay the next couple of days.
After settling in the room the four of us gathered together at the reception for dinner. The girls made the chose to eat at the western restaurant at the hotel, so that's it. After sitting down at the table and ordered our food, the other four in the group came as well to eat at the same restaurant. After dinner, we went for a short walk in town to look at the life. Since we lived in the old town there were a lot of small streets close by the hotel where there was a busy life with sales stalls, small shops and small restaurants. We strolled quietly down the one long street watching the busy life around us. After walked a part of the street we turned back the same way. Back by the hotel we continued, but on the other side there were larger streets and not as much people. Therefore, we turned around again and went back to the hotel. After a drink in the bar we went to our rooms and went to bed.
Day 6 - Friday August 4. 2017
Xi'an - Terracotta army
After a little restless night for my part, it was time to get up, do the morning routine and have breakfast. Then we were ready for a tour at 09:00. This day we went out to the terracotta army that is in a field a little outside the city itself, about an hour's drive. The weather was brilliant sunshine and 38 degrees ...
Almost outside, we stopped at a factory where they made terracotta figures. Here we were explained the process of making a figure step by step. In addition, we saw some of the process of laquered furniture. It was of course possible to buy something if you wanted. In the end there was a carpet department and a shopping department with a lot of things like t-shirts, kimonos, drawing equipment for calligraphy, etc.
Then we drove the short way to the terracotta army. Since 2000, when I was here last, there had been built a whole small village on the outside. We stopped and strolled through all the shopping venues and restaurants and then entered the museum and the excavation site. We began to walk through the large hall with pit 1 where you could see about 2000 warriors in the ground, including some they were putting together.
We then proceeded to the next building and pit 3. Here, there were a lot of warriors that held a council and were thought to be the strategical council discussing. Besides, there were beleived to be some food storage here. Then we proceeded to the next building with pit 2. This was the pit where the least was assembled, but digged out only in some places to show how they were found. There were even a lot of assembled warriors in the glass mount as an exhibition. It was also explained how the army itself was standing on bricks inside a pit in an earthen. Then the pit were piled up with pillars whit a roof above to cover the entire army. In the end we went through the museum where there were a couple of generals with horse and carriage in bronze. These were in a slightly smaller format than the terracotta figures.
After the terracotta army we went back through the new "village" on the outside where we stopped at one of the restaurants where we had lunch. After lunch we got into the minibus to drive back to the hotel. But first we stopped near the terracotta army at a small village where we did a short walk. Here the guide explained us a little about the houses and a little about what they were growing. Then we went back to the hotel again.
Back in the room we rested a little before going out for dinner. The other three were going for a bath in the swimming pool, but it was closed both days we stayed. In anticipation of dinner I went down to the bar and got a beer. After a while Erik came down and joyned me. At agreed time we gathered and got ready to find a place for dinner.
We started walking to look for a restaurant. Then we walked the same street back on the other side. There were not many restaurants, just a few fast food places. We continued our walk, and eventually we came to a fruit shop where we went in and bought some different fruits. About dinner, we eventually ended up at the hotel, but this time at the Chinese restaurant.
It was obvious that they were not used to westerners because we were promptly asked if we were in the right place. After ordering we were constantly under supervision. Even the headmaster came and asked if he could take a picture of us ...
After dinner we sat down in the bar and had a drink. Then we ended the evening with a game of snooker with the girls against Erik and me before we went back to the rooms and went to bed.
Day 7 - Saturday August 5. 2017
Xi'an - City tour - Shanghai
We started the day as usual with our morning routine and breakfast, as well as packing our suitcases. This day we would continue to Shanghai, but first we would have some hours sightseeing in Xi'an city. We checked out and were ready to meet Cassie a little before 8:30.
We got into the minibus after loading our suitcases and drove off to the Muslim district. We went around in the back streets that formed the bazaar. In the middle of the area was the mosque were we entered and looked around in the area. The mosque itself we just walked up to, and not into as none of us were Muslim. After the mosque we continued in the bazaar and the surrounding streets. After a while we had seen most of it and continued driving to the next attraction.
After a short drive we were coming to the city wall of Xi'an. We went out of the bus and climbed up the wall. While Maren and I chose to just walk at the wall, Synne and Erik chose to cycle on a bike. After walking a little in the sun, it was 40 degrees, we gathered again and went down to the bus. This time to be driven to the lunch restaurant - Tang Palace Dance Show.
As usual at lunch, there were many varied dishes and more than enough food. Satisfied we went out of the restaurant after looking around for a brief moment as it actually was a opera hall. Then we went on to the last stop for sightseeing in Xi'an, to the Buddhist temple of Thanksgiving with the wild goose pagoda.
Here too we went along with Cassie around the area while she explained about what we did see. We walked from one building to the other and eventually ended up in the store (sic) where we looked at some calligraphy. We finished the day's sightseeing and were driven to the airport.
We checked in on the plane. Then we said goodbye to Cassie and went through the security check. Inside, the other three took a little bite of food before we went to the gate, but only after having looked through all the shops. During our walk we discovered that the flight was delayed 40 minutes.
In the end the plane came allthough at another gate. We boarded the plane and found our seats. Then we yet again had to wait before the plane could take off. About two hours late, we finally got to Shanghai.
In Shanghai we met our guide Alex and then we were driven to the hotel, Shanghai hotel. Now it had become quite late, so we just get up to the room and went to bed.
Day 8 - Sunday August 6. 2017
Shanghai - City tour
We started the day as usual with our morning routine and breakfast. Since it had been late the day before, we didn't start the city tour before 09:30. We sat in the minibus and were driven to Jinmao Tower. In the tower we took the elevator up to the 87th floor of the building, where there was an excellent view of the city. We went around at the floor and got a good view of the surrounding areas, but further out was harder since it was a bit dizzy.
After the viewpoint we went on to a silk factory. Here we got a presentation of silk production, first with the butterfly's different phases, then with how they extracted the threads from either a simple cocoon or a double cocoon, and finally what the different categories were used for. Then, as usual, it went into the sales department, with different types of items like quilts and pillows, bed linen, pictures (embroidery), blankets and clothes. And some shopping most of us did!
Then we got back in the bus and drove down to the river Huang, which is a tributary to Yangtze, and is the river that runs through Shanghai. Here we did a little walk first along the river and in the Bund quarter, which was the old English quarter in Shanghai. Finally we moved inwards the quarter and arrived at the restaurant where we were going to have lunch. After lunch we went to Central Hotel to use the toilet facilities there. We continued the walk into the pedestrian street, which was the main shopping street, and walked a while until we got to the front of Hotel Royal Meridien, where we were picked up by the minibus.
Then we drove to the old Chinese quarter. Here we strolled around until we reached an ancient garden - Yu Garden, where we entered. The garden was an ancient private garden that was created 400 years ago during the Ming era. We walked quietly through the garden and looked while Alex explained the background to what we looked at. After a while we were satisfied and went back to the bus, with a short stop for an ice cream.
Then we continued to the French Quarter which had become a modern western restaurant area. We walked a little on our own and looked around and bought a fresh fruit and/or vegetable juice. Then we gathered again and went back to the minibus. This time to be driven back to the hotel. Back we rested a little and then had a shower.
Early in the evening we gathered again at the reception area and drove down to the river where we boarded a small cruise boat to make a trip for an hour on the river and see Shanghai by night. We got up on the deck and had a good view of the whole city at both sides of the river Huang where many buildings had spectacular light show on parts or a whole wall mixed with a lot of advertising obviously.
After the boat trip, the whole group was driven back to the French Quarter where we had dinner in two groups / families. We chose Wolfgang Puck and got very good food, although the order of the dessert became a minor problem as they only had one Creme Brulee again. After dinner we took a taxi back to the hotel and quickly went to bed.
Day 9 - Monday August 7. 2017
Zhujiajiao
The final whole day in China and Shanghai we got up and did the usual morning ritual before we gathered at the reception for todays excursion at 9:30. We got into the minibus and drove off. We were to go to the delta and visit a traditional village by the water called Zhujiajiao.
After almost an hour we got to the village and started walking in the sunshine and 38 degrees heat. The city was rebuilt by the authorities to represent the traditional, although a tourist shop at the front of every house would probably not be natural... The river crossed the city, and from it there were many canals that formed waterways to all the houses.
After a while, we went back but stopped at a restaurant where we had lunch. Then we went back to the bus. The bus then drove back to the Shanghai where we dropped off in the shopping area, since we had the rest of the day on our own. Here we said goodbye to the Berg / Jensen family who would have another flight than us back and thanked for the company on the tour.
For shopping, the girls had already picked out which stores we were going to visit. I bought shoes on Nike, Maren clothes on Zara and Synne wanted a belt at Gucci. At Gucci, however, the belts were a bit too long, but they said they would fix this by cutting off a part of the belt and then sewing it together again, but then we had to come back a few hours later. After shopping in the selected stores and more, we stopped at an ice cream restaurant and had an ice cream and rested our feets a little. Then we went back to Gucci with some additional stops on the road. However, the belt had not been cut, so no belt on Synne this time.
We ended the shopping trip with a light and quick dinner at KFC. After that we took a taxi back to the hotel. In the afternoon it had become more and more dense, so obviously there was a some rain coming, but it stayed away the whole time we were in town. Back at the hotel, we had a drink in the bar before we went to the room, took a shower and went to bed. Not long after, it began to rain with lots of lightning and thunder.
Day 10 - Tuesday August 8. 2017
Shanghai - Amsterdam
Then it was just the trip back home left. We got up and got ready for departure from the hotel at 08:15. Alex had traveled to the airport earlier with the other family, so we got just a new driver picking us up and driving us to the airport. We met Alex and he helped us through the check in. Then we said goodbye to him and got through passport control and security checks and into the departure hall.
Already we knew that the plane would be a late since estimated boarding time was after the actual departure time. We strolled a little around in the airport and shopped a little, that is, I was shopping headset, while the others bought coffee and something to eat. Finally we boarded the plane and waited for departure. Which took its time and after a while a proper rain shower came that made the wait even longer. When the plane finally took off, it was delayed about 4 hours ...
On board, Erik and the girls sat at one side while I was sitting on the other side. Before the flight I sat and wrote a little on the laptop until there was no power left. Then it was only to concentrate on the offer on board of movies and music. And occasionally there was serving of different kinds. When we finally approached Schipool, it was clear that the reaching the next plane to Oslo would be difficult.
When we landed it was one minute left before the Oslo plane would departure, so we had to get information about what would happen now. After a while with lack of information and some directly misleading, it was clarified that we were to stay at the Hilton Hotel at Schipool and have a flight the next day. After a longer walk than necessary we found the hotel and checked in. Then we got a late dinner and then we went to bed.
Dag 11 - Wednesday August 9. 2017
Amsterdam - Oslo
After a night's sleep at the Hilton we got up and had a late and better breakfast. Then we checked out of the rooms and walked to the airport. We went through the security check and further to the gate, just with a short detour at the tax-free shops. We boarded the plane and took the flight back home to Oslo Airport, about 15 hours late, just to be met with ice-stormed rain. Clearly, the holiday was over!