After a not too traumatic journey through the Middle East, I finally arrived in China.
Mmm, China.
So much has been written and said about this supposed economic paradise for the West, I thought it would be worthwhile to check it out.
On landing at Beijing International Airport (huge – and still growing) I walked the line through the mass of people carrying various name plates.
After negotiating the clipboard wielding masses – not unlike some latter day walk of shame - I headed out into the cold light of day and the grey skies above.
Was this merely bad weather or something else?
“No, I think it’s smog,” said someone as we headed into town aboard a minibus.
There was hardly a bicycle to be seen as we drove into central Beijing, but amid the sea of VW Jettas I did see the odd Land Rover.
Good news for the Midlands automotive industry but bad news for the very dull Katie Melua.
Nine million bicycles was one of her songs, I think, but at the current rate of reduction it will be a bit less than than that.
There was also a mass of construction, with scores of welders finishing off the framework of a building by the roadside.
Everything is geared in this city towards preparing it for next year’s Olympics.
Whatever needs to be done and it will be – so much so that around Beijing’s grim 1960s tower blocks new buildings are being erected at a rapid pace.
Truly, this is a city which refuses to stand still – despite the increasing traffic congestion.