Fri, 4/27.  No photos.  Wuhan’s international airport is enormous and very, very new.  Plus empty.  We could see about ten gates in a row and only two were used, including ours.  Clearly, it’s intended to  relieve some of the pressure on Beijing and Shanghai.  But not yet.

Hong Kong airport is also new; only 20 years old.  But not empty by any means.  It’s about an hour driving time from Hong Kong Island.  Hotel is very nice (small with functioning AC!) and close to the active part of the island.  Within an hour I’d had a drink in two small english-styled sports bars, something that was non-existent in China, or at least not in the locales Ricky took us to.  Women’s volleyball and Men’s rugby. Bangers and Mash for dinner on my own.

Conclusion about the People’s Republic of China: It is made up of different people.  It would be a mistake to group them into one pigeonhole, just as it would be to the same with Americans.  Duh.  The best I can say about their relationship with the central government (and their lower level mechanisms) is that it’s treated as an irritating itch which won’t go away and that they shouldn’t scratch.  Capitalism is the focus of today’s game. 99% of daily life is about getting through it. They take vacations.  (90% of tourists in Tibet are Chinese I was told.  Keep in mind that access to Tibet is restricted, even for Chinese.  But still they go.)  Pay their bills.  Talk about little things.  (Glance furtively around before complaining.)  Etc.

The only place where I saw signs with Japanese translations was at the Panda Sanctuary.  Japan may not love China, but pandas are entirely different.

Tomorrow I get to see how much Hong Kong has changed the in 30(!) years since I was here last.  Seems like just yesterday.  I’ve always thought of Hong Kong as a timeless city.  I’ll see.