15th October: Doha, Qatar to Beijing, China
Bang on time at 2:05, we taxied out and set off from Qatar. It was a bit bumpy as we climbed through the boundary later, but soon enough we were over the Gulf and then Abu Dhabi. The seat next to us was free, so Kaja stretched out to try to sleep. My neck was sore, and I couldn’t find a comfy position. Good job I wasn’t asleep really as at 3:30am, we were served a main meal. Does anybody have any ideas what a meal at that time is called?! Funnily enough, it was idly and sambah again, although we also had some fruit and oatmeal.
Soon after, we began our transit over Pakistan and the first glimpses of twilight began to show on the eastern horizon. Apparently, it was now time to go to sleep, so I had to close the window blind just as the sun rose and before we reached the Himalayas. Disappointed at not being able to look at the views, I tried to sleep but only managed a few minutes here and there. When I did finally drift off, we were awoken again for food – this time a very tasty vegetable noodle dish and some fruit. We were two and a half hours out from Beijing and I managed a few peeks out of the window at the high altitude desert landscape of northern Tibet and southern Xinjiang. When I next looked, half an hour from Beijing, sharp green peaks lingered between the mist. Highways and high-speed rail cut through it all, seemingly with no regard for topography.
The first thing I noticed upon landing were the constant signs and ways of nudging people’s behaviours. The first example being football goals and a ball in each urinal to encourage a particular aim! Daxing Airport (this is the airport that famously looks good from the air) was exceptionally well organised with very regular toilets and hot and cold-water facilities. Soon, we came across a machine which took all of our fingerprints in exchange for a ticket to apparently speed up passport control. It didn’t work for Kaja but were told that it wouldn’t matter. Next, was a low-tech form to fill out with information about our trip and a short but very slow-moving queue for passport control. I had to answer quite a few questions about our itinerary but was stamped in and wished a good time in China. Interesting, Kaja had no questions at all. I must look suspicious!
Once we’d picked up bags (phew!), we ventured towards the metro. We both had turned on the Beijing Metro QR codes on our AliPay apps and they worked seamlessly! Tap in and out on the scanners and the money was taken from our cards. Very easy and none of the issues we’d heard of people having. The airport train was very spacious but the metro slightly less so, given it was now the evening rush hour. Regardless, everyone queued either side of each door and allowed people off first. We made the two changes without issue and were soon in the district of our hotel.
The weather was pleasant and dry, walking from the metro. We were a little perturbed by the site of three flashing blue and red lights on the sky. We didn’t work out what they were. The wide roads had regular, long timed pedestrian crossings which conveniently counted down. We also found the hotel without a problem and check in was hilariously fun with two young women on reception. We all giggled through the entire process!
It’s very residential around here but we quickly found an option for dinner. We were able to see the menu through a QR code, which opened in a mini-app within AliPay. AliPay’s built in translator then helped us know what to order, which then arrived at our table 10 minutes later. The food was delicious and the portions huge. We had a stir-fried tofu in a slightly spicy tomato sauce, with rice; a massive plate of ‘home cooked tofu’, mushrooms, and peppers, which turned out to have a piece of bacon hidden on the bottom; a tofu ‘steak’; 2 tofu skins; 3 bao buns; a quart of beer; and an iced tea. All in for £7.50, also paid automatically through AliPay. We took the leftovers with us. I feel so chilled and relaxed here. Everything just works!