Day 5: Beijing Zoo & Day 6: Going Home

So after trekking on the Great Wall, we decided to take it easy today and just head to the zoo. Our original plan was to go to the Summer Palace, but the weather wasn't all that great either so it got nixed.

We ended up having a lot of fun. We went to the aquarium and saw the dolphin show and then wandered around to see all the creatures. It was interesting seeing animals like deer and bears. Bears maybe, but deers I've never thought about them being in a zoo. The girls were all amazed when I told them we had deer in our backyard at home.

We also went to the Giant Panda exhibit. The panda were amazing as always, but I was a little dissapointed at the state of the facility. For a facility that was built for the Olympics it really didn't seem all that impressive. Another issue we had during the day was that a lot of construction was going on. They are preparing for the summer season, when the zoo is PACKED everyday. Atleast that's what my friends were telling me.

After the zoo we went and found dinner. The restaurant we chose had bone as their specialty. We order the bone and actually did the whole using a straw to suck out the bone marrow. I have to say that it was delicious.

Day 6:

Had to wake up very early, 5:30am, in order to leave by six and be at the airport at 6:30 for my 8am flight. I was soooo glad we did though because it was a challenge checking-in. First I followed the signs that said Hong Kong/ Macao flights. Stood in line and when I finally got to the desk learned that this area is only for direct flights and since I was transferring in Shanghai I had to go somewhere else. I walked over to domestic saw a great big sign for flights transferring at a Shanghai airport and tried there. No luck. Walked some more and finally saw the main China Eastern Check in desk. Woohoo! But again I couldn't check-in! Finally though the man directed me straight across the hall to the "TransChina Service" desk. For some reason if you are transferring from Beijing then to another city within China and then going outside of China you have to come to this special desk. I found it to be stupid.

I checked in, went and stood in the very long security lines, got wanded (everyone does) going through security and made it to my gate at 7:30am. Really glad I arrived so early.

The rest of the trip went smoothly. The Shanghai airport was boring, but fine other than that. The flights were awesome! They even served ice cream on my last flight. Yum Yum.

I've got to run and get to class now. They came and changed the locks are our apartment door this morning. Why, I don't know. I do know I'm officially an hour late for class because of them. Grrrrrrrrrr