Airport

Get to airport with decidedly heavy rucksack. Tearful last minute conversation with friend and I'm off.

On the approach to Beijing, medical airport officials get on with Men in Black type devices. Wonder if they are going to erase all memory of my homeland but they are taking temperatures to check for Swine Flu.

Another temperature check at passport control sees a small family pulled to one side. Rumours at hostel later say whoever gets pulled is quarantined for 7 days in a hotel and not allowed to see the outside world. Happy to be through and into Beijing for the first step of my adventure.