Leaving on a jet plane

I thought I would start our new blog off with blogging about our trip to India. Well, that came and went with no launch. Then I thought, well, surely I will start it on our two-year anniversary (last Monday) but again, it came and went with no fanfare. Tomorrow, I am leaving for China and I have decided that this will be the medium that I use to communicate with you while I am there. Who knows, I might even do some backposts of India and the anniversary.

But I need your help with one thing: convince RC to also contribute to this blog. He said that he might but I am sure with a gentle push from our friends, he will be more likely to contribute.

~*~

Tomorrow I leave for China with Mom. I am really nervous/excited to go. Our trip itinerary includes the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. I recently talked to someone who was there for three weeks and she said that it was a whirlwind tour. And we only have 2 1/2 weeks. Yikes! I have a feeling my Keens are going to get abused while I am there. Here is the itinerary:

17th Jul Beijing: (No meals) On arrival, meet and transfer to hotel. The room is booked by yourself. There is two person by separate tranfer.

18th Jul Beijing: (D) Today is free for you without transfer and guide. In the evening have dinner in Indian restaurant with transfer.

19th Jul Beijing: (B/D)Today you will visit the Great Wall at Juyong Pass and Ming Tombs.

20th Jul Beijing: (B/D)Full day visit the Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace.

21st Jul Beijing/Xian: (B/D)Today you will visit the Temple of Heaven and Yaxiu Market, and then transfer to airport for flight to Xian.

22nd Jul Xi’an: (B/D)Today you will visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Huaqing pool, Big Wild Goose Pagoda,Ancient Style Street and Ancient City Wall

23rd Jul Xi’an/Chongqing: (B/D)After breakfast, transfer to Xi’an airport for flight to Chongqing. On arrival, meet and take Century Star Cruiser.

24th Jul Three Gorge: (B/L/D)Full day visit the Fengdu Ghost City.

25th Jul Three Gorge: (B/L/D) Full day visit the Qutang Gorge, Xiling Gorge, Wu Gorge and Shennong Stream.

26th Jul Yichang-Wuhan/Hangzhou: (B/D) When you arrive in Yichang, will take coach to Wuhan airport, and then take flight to Hangzhou. On arrival, meet and transfer to hotel.

27th Jul Hangzhou- Mountain Huang: (B/D)After breakfast, take coach to Huangshan. Take the cable car go to top of the mountain. See Brush Pen Peak, Begin-to-Believe Peak, grotesque pine trees, Lion Peak, and Xihai Grand Canyon.. Paiyun Pavilion, see Flying Rock. Guangming Ding until Hundred foots Yuti, overlook Lianhua Peak, Yuping Peak and steep and limited Gorge.

28th Jul Mountain Huang: (B/D)Catch the glorious sunrise. And visit Yingke treet, Songke treet, Peike treet and so on

29th Jul Mountain Huang-Hangzhou: (B/D)Today go down Mountain by Cable Car. Transfer to Hangzhou. On arrival, check-in, then visit the West Lake, Santan Lake and Leifeng Tower, then visit the Liyin Temple, the Flying Peak, Six Harmornies Pagoda, Gushan Island.

30th Jul Hangzhou-Shanghai: (B/D)Drive to Shanghai, on arrival visit People’s Square, Century Street, Cruise Huangpu River and enjoy the Acrobatic Show in the evening.

31st Jul Shanghai: (B/D)Full day visit the Yu Garden, City God’s Temple, Nanjing Road, and the Bund.01st Aug Shanghai Departure: (B)Transfer to Shanghai airport for back flight.

Ok - so I was very ambitious when I started this post by doing all the hyperlinks. However, now I am in Small Town, Ohio and only have dialup and it keeps booting me off so the hyperlinks ended there.

I am nervous about this trip for several reasons:

1. It has been a long time since I have traveled without RC. We have been around the world twice and all over the US together. We have always traveled well together and now our routines and habits are deeply engrained. I know that he carries certain things for me but now I have to do it all myself!

2. I am traveling WITH Mom. While I love her like my mother, she is still my mother-in-law and I don't have the same liberties that with her that I do with Amma. I am certain we will get along but the uncertain will always bring about apprehension.

3. Speaking of the uncertain - China! I have been to India so many times but China is a whole different ballgame. Even Bali was different because we were staying in resorts the whole time, not traveling quite as much.

I think that is about the extent of my major concerns. Sigh. I look forward to reading your comments.