From Beijing with Creativity: A Work Trip That Sparked an Expressive Arts Journey – Travel Journal, 2025

A 26-Hour Odyssey: Planes, Layovers, and a Post-Modern Art Exhibit

It took 26 hours of flights and layovers, weaving through Dubai, to finally land in Beijing.

For an Israeli in 2025, flying with an Arab airline was the first cultural hurdle to overcome. But once again, I was reminded that we are all just a speck of dust on the world map. Dubai Airport is a post-modern work of art. Elegant, spotlessly clean, accessibly generous and incredibly vast. Raised with an Eastern European eye for quality, I’ve always believed that the actual test of a place is its toilets- and Dubai can undoubtedly answer for that.

Spa Salvation: When a Layover Turns into a Luxury Retreat

misery. Instead, I found salvation—a head and neck massage at the airport’s Express SPA. A life-changing decision.

Unexpected In-Flight Entertainment: Stuck with Crocodile Dundee

My original plan for the night? Drug myself into sleep.

But fate had other plans. Seated next to me was a handsome, rugged, Crocodile Dundee-type lad, who engaged me in conversation and awakened my competitive spirit in some app-games that I stayed wide awake for the entire eight-hour flight.

Lost in a Sea of Black Hair: Arrival in Beijing

Touchdown in Beijing! And just as expected, my Western look made me stand out like a neon sign. EVERYONE in the arrivals hall was Chinese, and I couldn’t spot Mia, my program coordinator, who was supposed to pick me up.

This scene took me back to my first time in Mumbai, India, when it was still Bombay—a moment when I had never felt so Caucasian in my life. Mia had tried to reach me, but—surprise! My internet failed. A preview of the many tech struggles that awaited me in the next act. When all else fails, we go old school—I sent Mia a message describing my outfit (long white coat, brown hat), as if I wasn’t already distinguishable enough.

Welcome to the Windy City Oriental Resort: My Temporary Home

Forty minutes later, I arrived at The Windy City Oriental Zheng Resort & Park—my home for the next two weeks. Exhausted but exhilarated, I immediately logged into a Zoom meeting (because, of course).

After shooting a hotel room short video, checking in with family, and basking in the luxurious surroundings, I collapsed into bed by 9 PM.

My Alexander Technique teacher, Yigal, always preaches the benefits of a firm mattress—he’d probably think my king-size Chinese bed is a blast!

Jet Lag & Midnight Calls: When the World Feels Extra Small

At 1:30 AM, I woke up. Hello, my jet-lagged friend!

Luckily, on the other side of the world, Lahalush (traveling from Colombia to Ecuador) was dealing with pre-flight anxiety. Perfect timing! I kept her company until she safely boarded her flight—because what else is one to do at 3 AM in Beijing?

Restless, I:

✔️ Unpacked

✔️ Worked

✔️ Flicked through Chinese TV channels

✔️ Tried (and failed) to mirror my phone to the TV

Eventually, I fell back asleep at 5:30 AM.

At 9 AM, my phone buzzed—Lahalush had landed safely! I groggily texted back and immediately fell into another sleep coma.

At noon, Mia called my room, worried because I’d missed breakfast. No worries—food was next on my agenda!

Stepping into a Sci-Fi Movie: Exploring My New Surroundings

So, my hotel is smack in the middle of the Olympic grounds, right next to a golf course. The streets are huge, the weather is freezing (seriously, so cold), and most buildings are fifty shades of gray. The only splashes of color? A sea of police officers in neon yellow vests, hats, and masks. Other than that—almost no people around. The silence? Eerie. Like, horror-movie-level eerie.

I definitely stand out here. No foreigners are anywhere to be seen, so let’s just say I got some serious sideways glances (in every sense of the word, I mean).

Then, there’s the language barrier. Everything is in Chinese. While walking around, I had a moment of realization—I always tell my couples in therapy to “visit their partner’s world as if they don’t speak the language.” Well, here I am, completely in the Imago of the other.

No WeChat = No Life!

And here’s the real kicker:

✔️ No Google Maps

✔️ No Gmail

✔️ No Apple Pay or Google Pay

✔️ No ChatGPT (tragic, I know)

✔️ No credit card acceptance (even old-school swiping doesn’t work)

Why? Because in Red China, if you don’t have WeChat, you don’t exist.

At this point, I realized I could literally starve to death on the streets. Hotel WiFi? Useless without a VPN. My only connection to the Western world? My international data plan—for as long as 3GB lasts…

Dinner & Small Wins

On a brighter note, the hotel has three fancy restaurants. We opted for the Western one tonight, and wow—the food was deliciously phenomenal! Plus, man-size exquisite orchids are everywhere, making the place look straight out of a luxury design magazine.

Meanwhile, Mia saved the day by helping me reinstall WeChat—to be used for literally everything (texting, calling, paying, you name it). So yeah, Beijing is an adventure so far!