Detroit, Rock City, Packs a Punch!

I got to sneak in some extra time to sight see on the trip visiting
grandmother. Detroit actually looks pretty cool. I wouldn't mind spending
some time downtown exploring more - unless of course in the couple hours I
was down there I already saw everything!

The new Tigers stadium and Ford Field look pretty cool I definitely want to
catch some games there!

As far as travel goes this one blew - at least on the ground in Detroit. I
spent 30 minutes just waiting for the Hertz bus after landing at 12:30 at
night. Then when I got to the lot I had to go in as the car was not ready
in the #1 Gold. The cranky lady I got to deal with then tried to convince
me that the Yaris she was giving me was an upgrade! Really? An upgrade?
From what exactly!

Fortunately the negative experience was limited primarily to the Detroit
Airport. Departing was about as much joy as the arrival. While Hertz seemed
not ready to process my return, it was 'the new Delta' that was the issue.
Apparently the Northwest personnel have not gotten the notice that *they*
were acquired by Delta, not the other way around! New name on the gates,
different uniform on the crew, but definitely the same cranky ass attitude
that made Northwest 'oh so special" to fly. I particularly loved the
attendant who uttered "Je-sus Christ" under her breath when I asked for
some info. She also explained that Delta was in the next terminal and that
this was a Northwest terminal. Now, mind you, she was in a Delta uniform.
The sign above her too-busy-to-be-bothered head said Delta, and the plane
sitting behind her was painted "Delta". If that weren't enough, this
NWA-or-die flighty attendant tried to tell me Northwest acquired Delta!
"Delta bought Northwest, right?" I quickly pointed out, trying to help her
understand the NWO - new world order - she now faced ... and wore ... and
worked under ... and worked for. Don't think she appreciated the news.
That's alright. I didn't appreciated her bring the Nitwits With Attitude
mind st she brought to my airline!

Good thing everything in the middle of this trip was great. Spending time
with my grandmother, taking her to her first movie in 30 years, taking her
to McDonald's which she considered a treat as her recently passed away
husband never would take her there, and just hanging out far out weighed
the crap at the airport.

Living the High Life!

Oh yea, look out! I am rockin' the Double A town in a Yaris! Who's bad!

The funny thing was the Hertz lady trying to convince me that this was an
upgrade! LOL!! Over what? A tricycle!?

Over Hills and ... It'd Better Over the Woods, Too!

An bonus trip amongst all the biz travel. While the destination is not as
exotic as Shanghai, Nairobi, or Prague, I am looking forward to it in a big
way.

My grandmother turned 90 in April and I was not able to make her party. I
was upset that I missed the milestone. But I promised her I'd come back in
June and spend time with her. I figured it'd better to do that anyways as I
knew she was going to have a bunch of people buzzing around her all day.
This way we get more 1-1 time! I missed June what with the trip to Berlin,
Jordan's graduation and a pending Asia trip. So this is the weekend! I am
happy I was finally able to make it happen.

So, Ann Arbor, Michigan here I come!

Some How It Wouldn't Be the Same

I am dying for some real Chicago style pizza but I don't think this would
satisfy that craving. Seoul-style Chicago Pizza??

Now let's see if I can get back!

I am in Yokahama. After figuring I had time today to get here and notch
another Hard Rock I am now faced with the task of getting back. Let's see
how we do...

My New Friend!

I seem to have made a new friend. Either that or I am sitting where he
wants to play!

Shanghai on a Saturday Afternoon

Enjoying kicking back on the walk along the river.

Nice legs!

Great desserts @ the hotel buffet. And let me tell you its not a Las Vegas
style spread of crappy food. This is an awesome spread.

Great Sports?

Flipping through the TV and looking at the channel guide I came across the
'Great Sports' channel. *This* is great sport in China?

Suite View!

Ok, I am not in a suite but it is a hell of a view from my room.

Quit yer Damn Spittin!

You know, I bet if people here would quit hocking all over the place there
would be less need for that whole surgical mask thing here in China!

I go through everything but a rectal exam to get into the country and when
I get in people are horkin' up who knows what and going projectile with it.
Something ain't right with that. The next person to hock a loogey in front
of me I will sneeze on!

Probed in Pudong

Cripes, I know what E.T. felt like when the NASA guys met up with him!
After we landed in Shanghai at Pudong Airport, and before we were allowed
to move from our seats, these two people came on board for a health
inspection. (In fact that is where I am typing this from now.) They were
dressed head to toe in throw-away hooded white cover-alls, surgical masks
and surgical gloves. They kind of reminded me of the clean room employees
you would see in an Intel commercial!

The first lady had some strange looking reader device that looked kind of
like a radar gun. She pointed it at my head for a few seconds and then
motioned for her buddy to come over. Oh crap! Did they see something? I was
trying not to breathe too much as my stupid nose was stuffy and I could
feel another sneeze brewing. Fortunately, her pal was the thermometer guy
and whatever the little radar gun thingy read I must have been fine because
when he got there she moved on. My temp was fine too and soon the second
marshmallow dude was on his way.

After they check everyone they are finally letting us deplane. And of
course after the clean bill of health that stupid sneeze is really starting
to well up.

Off the plane now and heading to the 2nd health checkpoint. And wouldn't it
figure I did sneeze again before I got off the plane. Right after I sneezed
the flight attendant stopped all of us from exiting the plane. I though
this was it. I was going to be whisked off to some Chinese makeshift exam
room in some back corridor of Pudong airport. Thankfully, she was stopping
us because the Michelin man and Michelin woman had not finished examining
quite everyone yet. After a couple of seconds they made their way back up
to the front and off the plane. Whew! I am cleared for entry - or so I
thought.

Notice I said off to the 2nd checkpoint! Not sneezing. Hmm, has anyone ever
been successful with that? I was certainly trying my hardest but it didn't
work - twice. The good news though, no one said anything. I made sure to
not sniffle going thru the checkpoint though and was able to pass with both
health checkers at the next point. Man, I hate these kind of tests!

Now I am in the taxi heading to the airport. One last sneeze for the heck
of it I guess. The taxi driver sure looked at me funny after that. I hope
he isn't now taking me to some national quarantine detention center!

Mainland China

We just landed in China and are taxiing to the terminal. I filled out my
Health Declaration form and am now crossing my fingers that I am not the
next quarantine story! A couple of weeks ago I read a story of an American
who was pulled away from his travel in China and was quarantined. He
himself was not sick and he showed no symptoms of the H1N1 virus, but
apparently he was near someone on the plane who needed to be quarantined.

I am fine. And as I look around the plane it is relatively empty, only
about 4 people within 6 feet of me. I am hoping they are fine, too! The
story of the man's quarantine was not a pretty one and I do NOT wish to
repeat it myself!