Back to Beijing

The first requirement for the journey was that all 120 of us passengers had to get a covid test in DC.We then departed several days later, and it was a long trip back to Beijing, about 48 hours total. The DC to Guam charter flight was great because we were put in 1st class. Not sure why, maybe because my last name begins with a B. After waiting hours at Guam Airport in the middle of the night, we then boarded a converted medical plane, photo below. As you can see there were no windows, overhead compartments, entertainment screens, etc. Catching some zzzzzzzs during the flight from Guam to China. 

We landed in Tianjin, a port city not far from Beijing, then all 120 of us were tested a second time for covid. We then had to wait there for about 7 hours until we had confirmation that all of us had tested negative. Anyone testing positive would have to return to the US on that same medical plane. 

A convoy of buses then transported us from Tianjin to Beijing, about a two hour trip. The highway was closed off to other vehicles so even though it was rush hour there was no traffic. Below you can see people from our housing unit waiting to greet us, some wearing hazmat suits. 

So now we're in strict 14 day quarantine, and we're not supposed to even go out on our back porch. Once in awhile we see a housing complex worker walk by, making sure we don't go outside. Sometimes another worker comes by and sprays disinfectant around outside our house just for good measure. So far quarantine isn't bad at all. We do yoga, cook, clean, study, etc. Due to jet lag, my siesta has been stretching from around noon to 3 pm. As for food, we order it, then after it's placed outside on our front porch we have to wait 3 minutes before we open the door to get it. 

Each day there are various quarantine classes on the Internet. Dawn watched the towel art class yesterday and created the monkey. 

Back again to DC next month so we also keep busy organizing our belongings in preparation for the move. 

As of today, 5 days down and 9 more to go. Today's quarantine video: Oodles of noodles. 

 

Juneteenth celebration DC style

 While Donald Trump prepares to depart for his MAGA rally in Tulsa tomorrow, a large Juneteenth celebration is going on outside the White House.

16 days and not finished yet

 The protests have been going on in DC for over 2 weeks. Many establishments in the city have boarded up their windows, though the protests now are peaceful, more like a street festival, with music, dancing, even free food.

 Trump felt the need to call in the National Guard, and some of the soldiers are still here, hanging around the city streets.

 An evening march to the Lincoln Memorial.

 The fence in front of the White House. 3 Smithsonian museums have started collecting items from the protests, including the signs.

 Above photo and bottom 2, taken today, day #16 of the protests. A huge march is planned for 28 August, with plans for 1,000 busses coming into DC, and around 100,000 participants...

Heating up in DC

 It's starting to feel like summer in DC. Up in the mid 80s today. Lately I've started reading some more books about the nutritarian diet. Basically this diet goes beyond veganism, focusing on nutrient dense plant-based power foods. Your daily diet could consist of Doritos and Coke and you'd still be a vegan, so nutritarians go beyond veganism, focusing on foods that pack the most nutrient-rich punch. For example choosing sweet potatoes over white potatoes, wild rice over brown, tahini over olive oil. PS Top photo is a nutritarian immune boosting tea that I often drink: organic hibiscus flowers, organic lemon, organic ginger oil, organic vanilla, vietnamese cinnamon sticks.

 Things are still pretty slow in the city, but restaurants, barbershops, coffee shops, etc. started opening up yesterday. This despite the fact that DC is currently a covid hotspot in the US.

 Above photo and below: I'm still studying Chinese every day, but still not sure if I'll return to China this summer. Currently those returning must do a strict 2 week quarantine inside their house (a neighbor delivers your food 3 times a day). As far as I can tell, most Beijingers still practice social distancing, wear masks when outside, and things are far from back to normal in that city.

 This $100 folding kick scooter was a great investment. I go out on it several times a day, and due to the pandemic there's very little traffic to get in my way.

 Buskers aren't supposed to be out, but it's always a pleasant surprise to come across some street music.

Nice to pick up some flowers now and then during the pandemic. Ever since living in Japan Dawn's had a special talent for flower arranging.

More protests today at the White House because of the recent murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman. Since DC has been on lockdown for months it's kind of shocking to suddenly see thousands of people gathering on the streets.

DC goes on lockdown

 The weekend before last people were flocking to the Tidal Basin for cherry blossom viewing. Now entrance is prohibited and DC police have roped off the entire area.

 We're still staying at a hotel but some in DC have been closing due to lack of business. No more buffet breakfast at our hotel. We can request to have the room cleaned once a week or so.

 First time I've stayed at a hotel where most days you clean the room yourself, and set the trash out in the hallway each morning.

 The gym's still open but almost nobody uses it.

...and the hotel lobby is rarely used.

 Yesterday these social distancing tables were set up in front of the reception area.

 People frequently queue up in front of Trader Joe's grocery store.

 Whole Foods grocery store now limits how many customers can be in the store at a time.

 DC's famous Eastern Market on a Sunday morning would normally be packed

 DC went on lockdown this morning at 12 am, so these guys hanging out at Foggy Bottom metro station could be fined $5,000 each and imprisoned for 90 days. Not someplace you'd want to be right now:

https://www.newsweek.com/aclu-sues-dc-department-corrections-over-coronavirus-outbreak-jail-1495162

Have started seeing these new high-tech social distancing vehicles in the city.