Go East!

by Joelle
Go East!

My love affair with China started about 30 years ago well before the movies,  Indohine and L’Amant  mirrors  a romantic exoticism and  elegant  aesthetics I was thrived to absorb.

Although both movies took place in Vietnam, my Eastern reverie called upon daring to  explore  distant  myths , some of which  I instinctively  knew,  would decline to be slowly extinguished in time.

20 hours later , in 1980, I land in Peking  in the midst, of  Mao Tse-tung  Cultural Revolution  at a time where the now deceased leader decides to open China frontiers for tourists from around the world , like me.

There I was among those first  on line at the customs with tons Western food hid in the  luggage ,  my blue eyes and  thriving  to check in person the myth or apparent reality of a cultural and political society I  not familiar at all.

Among  many of  my travel experiences,  the Pre-Coke – People’s Republic of China – the most populous state in the world , is one I will never forget . Preciously kept like the privileged secret  within the ‘great walls’ of my  heart, I waited many years to reveal  and share it until I felt it made some sense, and now the time has come.

– ‘ Miss Maslaton? Pleasure to talk to you !’ says Selina Liu, assistant the Manhattan Sales department of China Eastern. ” We will be happy to assist  you with out China Eastern Premium MU unit in the

JFK- Shanghai-JFK   first class  December 30 booking. ” Enjoy our country and Happy New Year”.

Far from the past experience, I am  now indulging a luxurious way to fly starting with the comfortable  Star Alliance lounge at Kennedy airport a recent  CE achievement . Loaded with magazines, travel guides, camera equipment and  a large  Gucci snakeskin purse,  at last I take my shoes off  with the help of a pretty short haired   flight attendant who hands me  the most comfortable slipper, a mint leader toiletry case signed Bulgari and a dark bleu pajama China- Revolution -Style  looking exactly like the uniforms I saw on Beijingers  30 years ago.

The well-appointed  lounge leather upholstered seat of the  spacious cabin offer extra privacy and room to stretch out. The proper turn-down service with fine wines and personalized cuisine are a safe and  a pampering platform for my inner past time travel.

In the last-generation noise -reduction headphones, I now listen to Chinese pop tunes; all Western melodies that vary from soul and break dance to ballads a la  Michael Frank  and 5 Cents but sang in Chinese with English titles for easy recognition.  Relaxed, I can’t help memorize those cute children dressed in bright colors opposed to the rigueur and homogeneity  of their parent’s appearance in the realms  of the Forbidden City emperor’s chambers.

On last- generation noise- canceling headphones, I select Chinese pop albums whose tunes are a mix of Western melodies are a mix from souls to ballades Ballade a la James Taylor  and 5Cents passing through break dance,  but totally  sang in Chinese with English titles for easy recognition.

The flat bed is set with tailored-down service  by miss Wang Yungi the cabin manager  over fresh bed linens and a down-filled duvet are  tailored turn-down service,  warm terry- cloth socks, I can now  can sget some deserved rest in world-class luxury making most of my precious time in the sky.

But before I sleep, my last thought goes to  those children immortalized on my vintage pictures in this  post . They must be today about 35 and probably never made the blue uniform transition of their parents and grand parents. They are possibly the young parents of a promising generation , once more 30 years later,  I have come to check in person. New secrets will be unveiled , this time to stay.

I have  now arrived fresh and rested at the ultra modern Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The journey of about 4 weeks in mainland China’s most renowned cities is about to start .

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Joelle’ Tips:

The Airline:

China Eastern

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!Go East!

Go East!

Go East!

Go East!Go East!

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