this plane was the start

Getting on a plane in KM is sorta like an old 1950s add in a magazine for Piedmont Airlines with passengers in suits walking out to a set of stairs from the terminal to enter the plane. As so far as I can tell none of the boarding"gates" work. There is a lot of picture taking during this moment among those not jostling to be among the first to get to their assigned seat on the plane. As you can tell, I was not worried about getting to my seat as were a few other travelers. (There were extra seats - though not many). ShaunDong Air is a subsidiary of Air China, and puts you at the new terminal in Beijing, which is super fancy, but has has the fewest choices of dining of any airport I was ever in, except perhaps the little air strip in Bacon County, Georgia that Mark and I landed at coming back from Miami last year. It had a coffee machine and "nabs" basket, with honor system.
No walking to the plane, it among the many others was parked well away from the terminal and shuttle busses take the passengers out to the planes. ( here you see The late arrivals, arriving.).

I got home with easy, smooth connections, all flights on time, all but the last full or nearly full. My seat mate on the long flight was a Tienamen Square participant and current citizen of US living in Raleigh. -small world. Chicago was busy - gee whiz, but busy, how ORD manages to manage is amazing. Had a bacon burger in terminal B at Chili's and it was good too.

Sure was nice to see Patt waiting for me in Raleigh. It is great to be home, because I sure did miss her. The security guard did not even run her off while I gathered my bag, as she waited in the car for a few minutes (and the world did not end either.)

Work yesterday was. well work, I assume I will be paid for it, and I reckon I earned most of the pay. Today's value added will be debatable, next week ought to be a better value for the state.

and yes I sure do miss my time in China but TREASURE my memories.

ttfn