ENTERING THE DRAGON

Day 1, March 22nd

So, it has finally begun.  I got off of work on Friday, gathered up what I needed on Saturday and Sunday and drove to my parents’ house on Sunday night.  I got home a little before midnight.  Normally, they would be asleep by now.  Not this time.  Questions.  Lots of them.  When you pack for a trip like this, you inevitably pack too much.  There are always things you wished you hadn’t brought and then you have the internal argument with yourself about lugging it around the whole trip, or ditching it and buying a new one when you get home.  But, they had snacks they wanted to bring.  More specifically, she had 6 weeks worth of snacks she wanted to bring. 

They needed a crash course in Backpacking 101.  Focus on necessities…medicine, money, passport, good, worn-in shoes.  Everything else can be purchased.  Think about it, what in America isn’t made in China, Vietnam or Thailand.  Sure, Mexico deserves her due for her contributions to manufactured goods in the U.S., but I would argue the lion’s share comes from Asia.

Another problem with preparing for a trip like this is that you want to prepare for all scenarios.  But, that is impossible with a trip full of unknowns.  You have to plan for quick emergencies to get you through the moment and then use the local resources to completely solve the problem.  Even at home, you rarely have anything that lasts you 6 weeks.  You always have to go get more.  Same when you travel.

Now, my dad will be quick to point out that my shower gloves are not a “necessity”.  I would agree.  In a pinch, I can do without.  But, even while traveling you should take the time to exfoliate.  That’s just good hygiene.

As I mentioned before, dad planned and prepared more for this trip than all of the planning I have ever done put together.  His “vacations” are like military operations.  Objectives.  Timetables.  Check points.  Papers and maps in clear plastic folders.  Color-coded tabs highlighting his travel book.  Clothes individually wrapped in plastic bags and wrapped with a rubber band. 

Me…my vacations are like a military operation, if a military operation were a loosely formed idea defined by an ever changing, fluid experience that is propelled by chance, whims and curiosity, and timetables and check points were more of a suggestion or guideline which is never paid much attention.  My packing style?  It’s all just crammed in my backpack.  Their backpacks were packed and ready to go days in advance.  I finished packing about 5 minutes before we left for the airport.  Literally.

When it comes to military style “vacations”, he is General Patton, I’m Private Gomer Pile.  And we’re both cool with that.  Mom, she just wants her snacks.  No surprises on either side.

Let me say that I’m definitely gonna make fun of my parents a lot on this trip (you should hear dad try to pronounce Chinese names), and they know it.  But, I love my parents and the uniqueness of this opportunity is certainly not lost on me.  I never imagined I would be able to have such an amazing experience like this with them.  I am grateful for it.

Last night, they each got about 3-4 hours of sleep.  I slept none.  Stayed up the whole night to try to get a head start on the time change and jetlag.  Actually, I really haven’t had a good night’s sleep for the past 5 nights.  I’m exhausted before the trip even starts.

Our plane left out of DFW at 7am, we were at the airport at 5am, left the house around 3:45am.  We all slept from Dallas to San Fran where we had a 3-hour layover.  Then the big one…San Fran to Beijing.

The three adventurers at the DFW airport.

After 11 ½ hours, 6087 miles, many attempts to watch bad movies (even sequestered on an airplane, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader sucks), five cups of coffee, three horrible meals and one GIANT JACKASS using the back of my seat as a punching bag we landed in Beijing.  I’m serious, this guy behind me was very particular about when and how far my seat was laid back and didn’t hesitate to let me know when it didn’t meet his expectations.  After being packed in my seat for so long and unable to get comfortable, I finally got tired of being ordered around and just left my seat laying back.  He worked out his aggression on my seat about 20-30 times and threw a couple of stink eyes my way during his bathroom breaks.  He felt pretty tough and looked pretty tall and I looked pretty short…until I stood up to deplane and he was reminded that he was a towering 4’11”.  I was hoping to stay awake for most of the flight anyway and Jackie Chan’s less talented cousin certainly helped.  I’m hoping he is not an omen of things to come.

As soon as we got off of the plane and made it through immigration and baggage claim, it felt like a General Patton “vacation” right away.  A driver was standing at the exit holding a card with dad’s name on it ready to whisk us away to our hostel.  On our way to the car, dad officially turned over the reins of the trip to me.  Mom just wanted one of her snacks.

Time to teach them how to give in to “the life.”

Tour guidingly yours,

Gomer

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