On+to+Wuhan

= On to Wuhan  =

So Friday morning was an early wake-up (5:00 am) for my flight to Wuhan. A driver picked me up, drove me to the airport, and dropped me off with a high five and "good luck!"

But really, airports are airports (Beijing looks like LAX but much cleaner) and I had no problem navigating check in and boarding. On the flight I meet three faculty from Virginia Commonwealth on their way to build partnerships with some sci/tech campus. They were freaking out over the smoky humidity. The air quality reminds me of the worst day in 1990 Riverside plus 95% humidity. Bummer after the blue skies of Beijing. I can see very little beyond the freeway because of poor visibility.

Once I collected my baggage I was through the gate and quickly scooped up by my Intel team, who deposited me and my luggage into a waiting car and I was on my way to the International Hotel about 1 hour away. The driver played the radio - just like 94.7 The Wave but in Chinese. Nice and mellow. Traffic was light - a nice break from Shanghai and Beijing. OMG - a little Taylor Swift "Back to December."

Again the area is very lush. China is committed to growing the "lungs of the city" to help combat air pollution. I recognized white and pink oleander, cedar, willow, and silk trees.

It is strange to be traveling alone after having constant companions. And in a car instead of a bus. And my colleagues have just now arrived at Beijing Airport!

It is amazing what China has accomplished in the last 20 years! The human power is comparative to that which built the Great Wall. Only now they are assisted by modern technology. Watch out world!

Freeway is a little crazy - bicycles allowed! And I saw some young hip folks walking and other groups with plenty of luggage waiting for a bus - standing on the inside of the guard rails! And lots of trucks and cars - we were going 50-60 mph while the music segued to Rihanna's "What's My Name" and then Mariah Carey (I think it was his personal stash).

We crossed a number of rivers - and I can see by the car GPS that there are many rivers and lakes but my driver doesn't speak English so he couldn't confirm that we crossed the Yantze. I also saw crops growing much like along the I5 in CA. There is a river out there - but the haze is just too strong - visibility is so low.

Most middle class folks like in apartments, 600-1250 sq ft. Only the rich live in houses and the poor might live in the houtangs (alleys) in the cities or primitive homes in the villages. Some of the new housing areas look similar to the OC; but older ones are more like Dallas projects.

At BNU we were told that students live 6 to a room in triple bunk beds, communal baths, and take their meals in the cafeteria. They also provide faculty housing - 2 bedroom apts in buildings next to student dorms. Space is such a priority that the campus allows students to study in unused classrooms and even posts room schedules. This practice is becoming more common at CSUF.

Each hotel has had at least one strange feature. In Shanghai, we had to learn new key card tricks, in Nanjing I showered with the tub faucet because I couldn't figure out how to change the flow (and I wasn't the only one!), and in Beijing we couldn't figure out how to turn off the bed lights. Wonder what it will be at my new hotel?

So we get caught in a traffic jam in Wuhan and a woman street cleaner takes advantage of the break to come out in sweep up a few small pieces of trash. Wow!

Hotel is lovely - my bathroom shower has windows into my room. I had a quick lunch w Intel colleagues and learned that my keynote will be simultaneously translated. Interesting.

So I had a city tour in the afternoon and we started off with the Yellow Crane Tower - nine floors of steps as well as many more to get to the tower in the first place! My tour guide, Serena, is young and beautiful! We went to the top but were unable to see the river or Turtle Mountain due to haze.

Next on the tour was the Hubei Provencial Museum, where we viewed items from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng. This tomb was discovered under water in 1959 and items were unearthed for the next 20 years. He was buried with all of his musicians, and instruments, which were recovered in pretty good shape. Here I am with the bells. He was also buried with a number of women - all very young.



We ended the day with a performance of the Set Bells in the chamber hall.