Prior China 2008

I was really looking forward to this trip. Previous travels over the years have been mostly to KL or Singapore; which to me is boring and monotonous. These are places I have been accustomed to and I knew what to expect from these trips. Finally a venture to the unknown: an unknown country, city, culture, people and place.. And, it would be my very first trip to China. I could not sleep for the two days leading to my departure from KL, partly to do with me falling sick, but more of me being excited and nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it was going to be different. It was more like an adventure than a holiday.

The trip somehow coincided with me reading a book on China’s economy and its significance to the rest of the world. I think that somehow added to my excitement. I was looking forward to seeing what China has become, and if any, the remnants of its past, and also the life and culture of its people. Being interested in politics, foreign relations and current affairs, that further fuelled my desire to pay a visit to one of the world’s and civilization’s most significant places. I was particularly anticipating the visit to the Tiananmen Square, and also to witness first-hand the very much talked about phenomenal growth of this great nation, after being stripped bare of everything in the early and mid-20th century. I very much liked to see for myself the strength and character of its people, which I greatly respect and am fascinated with, in rebuilding a nation from near destruction to what it is today, and what they have achieved through that. Maybe it is due to the way I’m educated, brought up, my environment, or my interests, or the readings that I have done, that I am more interested in China’s development in the past century politically, economically and socially; rather than the dynasties and grandeur of centuries ago, but I was nonetheless looking forward with a slight interest to those sites with such historical and cultural values. Just the thought of me being able to accomplish this, or part of it, from this trip was in itself exhilarating.

The days leading to the departure, I have been busy reading Lonely Planet: China and Lonely Planet City Encounters: Beijing, making notes and plans on where I would like to go, what I would like to see, and what I would like to do. But I left most of the planning etc to my mother, for this is a family holiday and it would make it much easier if all I did was just to show up as she handled the rest. From my reads, travelling in China seemed fairly simple and manageable (alone or with a family), which I later realised how wrong I was. I was initially sceptical of engaging tours, which my aunt did arrange on our family’s behalf out of good faith as my parents were extremely busy, but I nonetheless kept an open mind and just went along with everything.

I departed KL early morning on the 6th, December.