Look out Asia. Here we come!

In Spring, 2023, Rik and I started planning a trip to Egypt with our friends Tatiana and Aaron. Then things blew up in the Middle East.  (I think the leaders in that area have a death wish. I do not.) So…plans have changed! The Far East is our new destination. On Wednesday morning, we will be leaving for a tour of China and Japan!  Here's a map of our rough path.

Barring any unforeseen delays, we will be hopping from Freddy to Montreal, then to Toronto, and finally to Tokyo. After a 13-hour flight, and a 12 hour time change, we’ll land in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon. 

This trip has required more planning than any we’ve done so far.  We had to travel to Montreal with forms up the wazoo to get our entry visa for China.  I got an eSIM from Hong Kong, and I downloaded Alipay and WeChat to make payments.  I hope I'm prepared.  It seems like a lot of work to be a tourist in China.  But it will be a grand adventure so, all good.  Our friends left a couple of days ahead of us and they are already in Tokyo.  Our plan is to meet up with them on Friday in Beijing and do the tour together. 

Over the past few months, I have heard and read countless horror stories of what lies ahead …but more than a billion people live there so how bad could it be?  

As to communication, I'm not sure how restricted we will be after we set foot in China on October 11 ...so I may go into a black hole for 8 days.  If so, do not be alarmed.  Unless it's October 20th and you still haven't gotten any updates from me.  Then, be very alarmed.  And send an army to come rescue me!

- Ruth