CHINA, A YEAR FROM NOW!

RIVER CRUISE IN CHINA: Something I've wanted to do for quite some time is go to China.  I’ve been to Russia – St. Petersburg and Moscow, but not further east. But then, wait a minute! When does east become west?  I mean Sarah Palin says she can see Russia from Alaska, so that makes Asia west of the U.S., actually.  But when I went to Russia I was coming from eastern Europe, so it was east (from Austria, actually).  But flying from Phoenix to China, it will be a western flight, west from here, well sort of, first to Chicago and then west to China. Have I completely confused you? 

There are Delta flights to Tokyo from Vancouver and San Francisco going west, where one can connect to Hong Kong or Seoul to Beijing. I fly American Airlines, so to fly to Beijing from Phoenix, again, I fly east to Chicago then west again to Beijing.  Not bad. 

SO . . . I’m seriously thinking of going on Uniworld's ‘Highlights of China and the Yangtze River Cruise' from Beijing to Shanghai. That is an incredible journey, beautiful sightseeing (more on that later). Now this will be in October 2015. They usually book a year out, so I’ll make up my mind between now and then.   I really want to do this.  

OR . . . TRAIN TO CHINA: A couple years ago I planned an overland journey from London to China, the trans-siberian route.  The choice was to launch from London or Paris ... maybe cheaper from Paris, don’t know.  Then the trains go up and across eastern Europe to Moscow.  But of course, I could fly to St. Petersburg or Moscow from Phoenix and catch the cross-country train from there.  That might be best for the train trip and to see those two marvelous cities again (Midnight in Moscow).  From either Russian city it's almost a straight shot to Beijing then on to Shanghai.  

Being that close to Hong Kong while in China would be a crime not to go there, at least for a weekend, by the way.  Anyway the train trip might still be in the running.  Depends on time and money, of course. 

I figure it's around $1150 to take the Moscow to Beijing train - 1st class 2-berth.  Then there's the hotel in Beijing, probably the Elite Hutong Courtyard (downtown) for $81 a nite approx.  So, let's say three nights in Beijing, total train and hotel - $1390, not bad.  Then I'd have to fly from Beijing to Chongqing and take a boat to travel the Yangtze to Shanghai.  Much more complicated, methinks.  Not to mention flight to Moscow, hotels, etc. 

I think flying in directly to Beijing and taking the 11-day cruise is the way to go.  And if there’s a way, I’ll do a weekend in Hong Kong before returning home. Definitely.  Flights are around $120 from Shanghai to Hong Kong.

The  Harbourview Hotel in Hong Kong overlooks Victoria Harbour and is around $90 per night. Not bad.   

Well, these are my thoughts.  It’s a year away … so I’ve plenty of time to sell some books and win the lottery, all for the sake of traveling. 

I’ll update as we go along.  In the meantime, happy traveling!!!