Heightened Exposure to Viruses and Bacteria
During Air Travel Can Ruin Your Holidays

The crowded, confined spaces inside airplanes can turn into a breeding ground for a vast array of infectious diseases. Although most passenger jets have sophisticated filtration systems to keep airborne viruses from spreading – high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are said to capture over 99 percent of bacteria and virus-carrying particles – you still can get infected because you are in close proximity to the mouths, noses and hands of so many other people. Also, the air circulation usually gets shut down when passengers board or exit or while the plane waits for takeoff. It is during these time periods that infections can spread like wildfire.

The greatest danger comes from your immediate surroundings, like the seats in front, besides and behind you, according to a study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases.” Viruses and bacteria can survive for many hours on the surfaces of seats, armrests, tray tables, remote controls and inside backseat pockets.

Your body’s natural defenses can also become compromised when you spend hours in a compressed cabin 30,000 feet up in the air. “When mucous membranes dry out [because of extremely dry air in airplanes], they are far less effective at blocking infections. High altitude can tire the body and fatigue plays a role in making people more susceptible to catching colds, too,” says Scott McCartney, a travel writer and author of “Where Germs Lurk on Planes.”

So, what can you do to protect your health while in transit? Travel expert Douglas Wright recommends to be especially aware of places where germs typically breed in a plane, including water tanks, food containers and lavatories.

Water quality on airplanes deserves more scrutiny than most passengers realize, according to Wright. People should be concerned about contamination of the water they drink in form of tea, coffee, cold water and ice cubes. Tests by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) have found traces of E. coli in onboard water tanks in both domestically and internationally operating aircraft. Many of these tanks are refilled at foreign airports where water purity standards can be questionable, says Wright. His advice is to purchase sealed water bottles or other prepackaged liquids after clearing airport security and use those instead.

Even in-flight meals (including business- and first class) are not always beyond reproach. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that some airline catering companies had less than perfect preparation and handling standards (to put it mildly). “You never really know where your meal has been. If you’re concerned, eat beforehand and bring your own snacks,” warns Wright.

Not surprisingly, the lavatory is one of the airplane’s most hazardous germ zones. The CDC considered airplane lavatories a major danger area for the spread of diseases during the H1N1 flu and SARS epidemics. Instead of washing your hands with water from the lavatory faucet, Wright recommends to use your own hand sanitizer when returning to your seat.

Caution is also advised with regards to airline-issued pillows and blankets. Just because you find them sealed in a plastic bag does not mean they are new or have been freshly cleaned. The same goes for earphones. Although there is no evidence that passengers routinely fall ill from using these items, it is still not a bad idea to bring your own whenever possible.

No matter how many cautionary measures you are willing to take, there will always be a certain amount of risk involved when you travel – by whatever means. “Work, recreation and families have become global. Most of us have to fly,” says Dr. Judith Reichman, MD, medical advisor and contributor to “Today’s Women,” in an article titled “Germs on a Plane: Can You Get Sick Flying?” “With rare exceptions, we don’t risk serious illness. Simple hygiene, hydration and judgment can help prevent air related health problems,” she added.

Even so, there are a few precautionary measures worthwhile observing:

1. Boost your immune system by eating healthy and getting enough sleep. I also recommend taking vitamin supplements or an Airborne® tablet a few hours before travel time.

2. Stay hydrated at all times. If the quality of the water served on the plane is questionable, bring your own.

3. Clean your hands frequently with hand sanitizers, especially before touching food.

4. Disinfect tray tables, armrests and remote controls the moment you’re seated.

5. Bring your own pillow, blanket and earphones if possible.

6. Avoid using seat pockets.

7. Open the air vent above your seat and aim it directly in front of your face. It can help blow virus-carrying particles away from you.

8. Change seats, if at all possible, if you find yourself in close proximity to someone displaying cold or flu symptoms.

9. Alert crewmembers if the air circulation system does not work properly or is shut off for extended periods of time.

10. Do take all necessary precautions without becoming paranoid. If your health concerns cause you too much stress, it’s time to relax and rely on your natural immune system to do its job.

Bon voyage!

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Beijing rivals today’s greatest capitals, on par with Moscow, London and Berlin. For its role as the host of the spectacular 2008 Summer Olympics, the city has been tremendously transformed, reflecting both its past greatness and future potential as the center of an economical superpower and important player in international affairs. While Beijing may not (yet) have the futuristic glitter of Shanghai, commercial, cultural and intellectual life flourishes here on a breathtakingly large scale. Despite of the continuing political restrictions, Beijing is definitely a city on the up and coming, ready and willing to take its place on the world stage.

Itinerary
Upon arrival at the newly renovated and vastly expanded international airport, we cleared immigration, claimed our baggage and were greeted by our personal tour guide who would be our constant companion for the next five days.

For a good nights rest and recovery from the long non-stop flight from San Francisco, we checked in at the Regent hotel, a tranquil, luxurious retreat, located in Beijing’s historical centre and less than a mile from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

The next day, we started out early with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza on earth. It is the symbolic and political heart of China. It was here that on October 1st, 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic. Years later, the square was vastly expanded in size and paved with concrete to accommodate up to a million people.

In the middle of the plaza stands the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Renmin Yingxiong Jinianbei, an obelisk dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Revolution. Further to the south is the Mao Mausoleum, Mao Zhuxi Jiniantang, where every day thousands of Chinese people and tourists from around the world form long lines, awaiting their turn to pass by the Chairman’s embalmed body.

Tiananmen Square is flanked to the east and west by two massive edifices, the National Museum of China, Zhongguo Guojia Bowuguan, which also houses the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History – and the Great Hall of the People, Renmindahuitang.

Chinese visitors to Beijing make a visit to Tiananmen Square a top priority and so do most tourists. For Westerners, the name has become synonymous with the demonstrations for greater democracy and their subsequent suppression in 1989. The Chinese government still considers these events a non-topic and foreigners are advised not to bring it up while visiting.

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At the northern end of the square sits the imposing Tiananmen Gate or Gate of Heavenly Peace. For many Chinese people, this is still an important symbol of Beijing and indeed the whole of China. Five passages lead through the massive walls. The one in the center was originally reserved for the emperor, but is now open to all. In imperial China, this was the location for many official events and government affairs. Historians have pointed out that Mao Zedong consciously chose Tiananmen Gate for the proclamation of the People’s Republic to give the Revolution its place in China’s larger historical context.

One of the best-known features of the square is Mao’s gigantic portrait that hangs high from the south wall. The painting measures 15 by 20 feet (4.5 by 6 meters) and weighs about one and a half tons, its canvas being reinforced by fiberglass and plastic to protect it from the elements.

Just north of Tiananmen Square lies the Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace, also known to the Chinese people as “Ta Nei,” which means “The Great Within.” It was the home of China’s emperors for almost five centuries. This remarkable complex measures a full square kilometer in size and has 8,706 rooms and halls that once housed thousands of imperial officials, servants and concubines.

At the height of its power, the imperial court was considered by the Chinese people the center of the world, a sacred ground where every aspect of life was strictly ritualized in compliance with the eternal order of the universe. Consequently, the Forbidden City was not simply the home of a mortal ruler but the sanctuary for the “Son of Heaven.” Legend has it that the emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, who began construction of the court in 1409, had received the original architectural plans from a heavenly messenger.

The geometrically exact layout of the Forbidden City reflects the hierarchical structure of imperial China with its strong belief in cosmic harmony and order. The buildings are carefully aligned on north-south lines with entrances facing south toward the sun. Many of the structures are made of wood, and a number of them have burned down and had to be restored more than once. Most of the present edifices date back to the 18th century.

Until the last emperor was overthrown and forced to leave the palace in 1924, the public had no access to the premises. Following the founding of the People’s Republic, the Forbidden City eventually became what is now officially called the “Palace Museum.”

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The next day we took a drive out of the city to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, Wan Li Chang Cheng. It is unquestionably the single most important tourist attraction in all of China. It is impossible to see more than a relatively small section at one visit, however, a few enthusiasts have actually hiked the entire 2,500 miles (4,000 km) of the wall that is visible today. As an effective defense mechanism against invaders from the north, the wall turned out to be a failure, as the Mongul attack in 1211 proved. Wind and weather have lead to erosion and decay over the following centuries and not much was done in terms of upkeep until the mid 1980s. Today, the Chinese government is much more aware of the Great Wall’s value as a source of income from tourism and is taking steps to ensure long-term preservation.

Back from our excursion outside the city, we continued our sightseeing tour with a visit to the Summer Palace and its vast imperial gardens. In fact, there are two summer palaces outside Beijing and both were used as getaways by the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. The older one, Yuanmingyuan, was largely destroyed in the mid 19th century by foreign troops during the “Second Opium War.” The new Summer Palace, Yiheyuan, was built as a replacement shortly thereafter. The surrounding pleasure gardens are a popular weekend destination for countless visitors in search of reprieve from city life. Picnics and boat rides on the Kunming Lake are among the many recreational activities that can be enjoyed here. A somewhat perplexing curiosity is the Marble Boat that sits idly by the lakeshore. It is a two-story structure in the shape of a vessel, entirely made of marble stone. Needless to say, it won’t float.

There is no doubt that the people of Beijing have an enduring love affair with their city’s many parks. Tiantan, Longtan, Ditan and Beihai, the Northern Sea Park, are the larger greeneries, but there are countless more. People of all ages and walks of life come here to rest, go for a leisurely stroll, do breathing exercises or join a group of Qigong- or Tai Chi practitioners. Even opera singing and ballroom dancing are commonly performed in public. Foreigners are welcome to participate if they choose to do so. Playing badminton or slow motion tennis with the locals can be a perfect way to meet and overcome language barriers.

Tiantan Park is Beijing’s largest and most popular open space. At its center lies the Temple of Heaven, Tiantan, a complex of spectacular imperial buildings once used by the Ming and Qing emperors for religious ceremonies. At winter solstice, China’s rulers came here to honor their ancestors and pray for good harvest for the coming year.

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Although Communist China is officially non-religious, religion still plays a role in many people’s lives here. Daoism originated in China, but Confucianism, Buddhism and, to a lesser extent, Islam and Christianity are also part of China’s spiritual heritage.

Buddhism became most influential in China during the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907). But even long before that period, Buddhist temples were built in different parts of the country. Beijing’s oldest Buddhist shrine is located in the Mentougou District on Tanzheshan Hill, about an hour drive from the city. The Tanzhesi temple, first built in 265, attracts worshippers and tourists alike for its magnificent art and tranquil scenery.

On our last day, we finally got to see Beijing’s most recent architectural wonder, the Olympic Park. The Bird’s Nest stadium and Water Cube hall have quickly become internationally recognizable icons. The innovatively designed stadium housed many of the main events of the Olympic games of 2008. Although it seats more than 90,000 people, the structure appears to be almost delicate rather than overpowering, which may also be due to the incredible vastness of its surroundings. Visitors still flock in large numbers from all over China to the site of the first Olympics in the country’s history, an event that endures as a moment of great national pride.

Contemporary Beijing is undergoing some of the most significant architectural changes in the city’s history. Many of the world’s most renowned architects and engineers are lining up to get in on the building boom. The city districts of Dongcheng and Chaoyang are Beijing’s new business- and entertainment hub and home to many world-class hotels and restaurants. Wangfujing is the first pedestrians-only shopping boulevard. All the top designers of luxury goods have set up shop here to ensure that the affluent from near and far feel right at home.

But in the midst of all the brand new glitter, there are still glimpses of old traditions and lifestyles to be had. Up and coming Beijingers may be in love with Mercedes, Audi and BMW, but they still enjoy shopping at their neighborhood street food market. The Dong’anmen Night Market is a must-see place to experience authentic Chinese culinary culture Beijing-style. If you’ve never tried scorpions, locust or spiders on a stick, here is your chance.

No matter how much time you have to spend, you cannot hope to explore Beijing within a few days or even weeks for that matter. Our guide did his utmost to show us the most important sites, but to understand anything about the city and its people, we would have had to linger at each place much longer.

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Visiting the parks turned out to be the best place for some basic interaction with the local population. Everyone we met was extremely polite and welcoming. We were surprisingly free to take photographs and videos everywhere we went, including Tiananmen Square, which was unexpected.

The Chinese government may have its difficulties in trying to juggle the rapid social- and economical changes the country is undergoing, but there is undoubtedly a great sense of optimism and high expectation for the future, especially among the young and restless urbanites. It is clear that China is ready to take on a leading role in the 21st century – you just have to come to Beijing and see for yourself.

Packing list
It is easy to travel light in China and certainly in the big cities, like Beijing or Shanghai. Tourists can wear comfortable, casual clothes almost everywhere but nothing too revealing. The dress code for business meetings and official occasions, on the other hand, is quite formal.

If you like shopping, you don’t really need to bring much in terms of clothing at all. Beijing offers a wide variety of shopping centers and markets. Your tour guide can help you find almost anything here, from cheap souvenirs to luxury brand items. Posh shopping malls and arcades are concentrated in and around the upscale hotels. Wangfujing is Beijing’s premier shopping avenue. For a more authentic experience, you may prefer the older commercial quarters of Xidan or Qianmen, which are both not too far from Tiananmen Square. Beijing is also known for its large markets of fake designer goods and pirated music and movies. For inexpensive souvenirs, I recommend the Pearl Market, Hongqiao, which is a huge multi-stories complex where traditional Chinese gifts, like jade, pearls and silk, are sold next to the latest I-pad edition (sometimes even before its official release).

Cultures and customs
For first-time visitors, the complexities of Chinese culture can be intimidating. In the big cities, however, there is no need to feel insecure. Since the Olympic games, the people of Beijing are very much used to a large presence of foreigners and consider it a natural part of modern-day life. The Chinese government also likes to project an image of greater openness and worldliness – to some extent. Right upon arrival, travelers are greeted with phrases like “Welcome Friends,” which are printed in dozens of languages on colorful silk banners hanging from the high ceiling of Beijing’s international airport terminal.

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Although customs are changing rapidly, greetings don’t normally include handshakes. The Chinese prefer to bow or nod their heads. The demeanor at first encounters is respectful and almost solemn. Don’t expect broad smiles. The common greeting is “Have you eaten?” It is the equivalent of the American “How are you?” Always answer in the affirmative, whether it’s true or not.

Punctuality is extremely important, especially in business. When you offer or receive a business card, do so with both hands and make a point of reading it carefully before you put it in your pocket.

Most Chinese are extremely interested in meeting foreigners. They are not judgmental when they see you struggle with the cultural differences, have difficulties with your chopsticks or don’t know the proper way to eat soup. If they laugh, it’s all in good spirit.

At first encounters, small talk is preferred to serious discussion. If someone doesn’t understand what you are trying to say, you will be responded to with a silent smile. The same may happen if a person tries to avoid saying no to you, which is considered rude. If you need to address a sensitive subject, do so very carefully and make certain that nobody “loses face,” which is paramount in Chinese culture.

If you are invited for dinner to a private home, it is polite to bring a gift, ideally something from your own country. Alcohol, chocolate and cigarettes are always welcome and you can purchase these duty-free at the airport before you clear customs.

At the dinner table, you may be urged to eat more than you intend to. It is part of Chinese hospitality to show utmost generosity towards guests. To avoid overeating, it is better to eat slowly and in small bites than to decline more food when it’s offered. When eating in larger groups, it is good manners to keep passing dishes around the table so nobody has to reach or ask for help.

Chinese dinner parties typically involve a lot of drinking. Some hosts consider it their duty to get the guests drunk. Expect much toasting. Customarily, the host will offer the first toast with the words “Gan bei,” which means, “empty your glass.” You are not supposed to “nurse” your drink but drain it quickly. It will be refilled in no time for another toast, and so forth. Good luck with that.

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Health and safety issues
For foreigners, Beijing is a very safe place to visit. As long as you are accompanied by a licensed tour guide or are part of a tourist group, you should have no troubles getting around safely. The constant presence of police, both in uniform and plain clothing, may feel a little intrusive at first, but it can also give you a sense of security. As I mentioned before, we were able to take photographs and videos everywhere we went, including Tiananmen Square, but we were always closely watched by the authorities.

Finding safe food to eat is never a problem. Most upscale hotels cater to an international clientele and offer different types of restaurants on their premises, including French, Italian, Japanese and Thai. For Westerners who can’t live without their burgers and fries, there are McDonald’s and other fast food joints in almost every part of town, including the Olympic park. However, I suggest you make the most of your visit by indulging in traditional Chinese cuisine as much as possible. One of the best places to explore the local fare is the legendary Peking Duck restaurant or Quanjude, which is named after the city’s signature dish. Of course, there are countless other places, all with their own culinary specialties and traditions.

Street food is extremely popular and can be a fun experience. We could not resist trying some of the more exotic specialties (don’t ask), but our stomachs rebelled not long thereafter. So, if you are not used to street food, you better go to a regular eatery.

The Chinese are known for eating fast. Pacing yourself is not always easy when you dine out, especially during lunchtime. If you are a light eater, you may want to stick to vegetarian dishes, and even they ca be quite fatty.

Unfortunately, Beijing has high levels of pollution, which is reflected in the poor quality of both air and water. You should not drink tab water. Even hot beverages are only safe if made with bottled water. If you are not sure about the quality of your drinking water, use carbonated soda – at least you know it hasn’t been tampered with. Alcoholic beverages are all fine, including the locally produced ones, especially beer, which is quite good.

No vaccinations are required for China. A health declaration entry card must be filled out as part of customs clearance. Visitors who suffer from serious illnesses, like tuberculosis or AIDS, are generally not allowed into the country. If you get sick, most tourist hotels can offer basic medical assistance. Some even have a pharmacy on their premises. In serious cases, transfers to hospitals where English is spoken can be arranged. You should also know beforehand where to contact your embassy in an emergency situation (e.g. www.usembassy-china.org.cn).

Summary
Beijing is definitely worth visiting. It is, and will be even more so in the future, one of the great metropolises in the world. Picking the right time of the year – spring and fall – can make your stay more pleasant. An itinerary of five to seven days for sightseeing just within the city limits and a trip to the Great Wall is not too long. I recommend you take it all in at a slow pace with plenty of time for leisurely dining, spa treatments and rest. Beijing has all the necessary accommodations and facilities in spades. Enjoy.

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Bhutan is an extraordinary travel destination by any measure. Some have called it the last Shangri-la. Others described the Bhutanese people as one of the last culturally intact societies. All who visit are bound to be mesmerized by the country’s natural beauty.

Nestled between two global giants, China and India, the small kingdom has maintained a high degree of authenticity and independence, although this may be changing sooner rather than later. While the unique cultural heritage continues to be dominant in everyday life and is strongly promoted by the government, there are signs of modernization and development everywhere. Still, Bhutan remains remote and isolated enough to make it very attractive for those who prefer the roads less traveled.

Itinerary
Our journey began with a very early flight from Bangkok to Paro, which has Bhutan’s only international airport. The national airline is Druk Air. Its pilots are probably the only ones experienced enough to maneuver larger size aircraft safely through the maze of the Himalayan mountain peaks that surround the region. There are no guarantees that landing is always possible, and passengers are given advance notice that flights may be cancelled or even turned around midair if the weather conditions are deemed unsafe. On a clear day, however, the views from the plane are nothing short of breathtaking. Nearing Paro, passengers can see some of the most spectacular peaks of the eastern Himalayas, including Kanchenchunga, the third highest mountain in the world, and Chomolhari, Bhutan’s holy mountain.

After clearing customs and collecting our baggage, we were met by our tour guide and driver who stayed with us throughout our entire visit. While there are no off-limit areas for tourists, the government of Bhutan requires that foreign visitors follow a pre-paid, pre-planned travel itinerary set up by a Bhutanese touring company.

English is spoken in the larger cities and at all major hotels, but once you venture out into the country, communicating with the locals can be more difficult.

Our first stop on the way to our hotel was the Ta Dzong, a circular fortress that was originally built to protect the town of Paro and the surrounding valley from invasion by foreign enemies. Today, it is a national museum. “Dzongs” were originally military fortresses, but today they serve as administrative centers for local governments and as monasteries for Bhutan’s many monks and their religious activities.

Below the Ta Dzong lies the Paro Rimpung Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most beautiful edifices of its kind. Visitors should not rush through these majestic, yet utterly peaceful dwellings but take time to quietly linger and experience the otherworldliness of the place.

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We spent our first night at the Zhiwa Ling hotel, which is an entirely Bhutanese-owned and managed five-star property and quite unique in its style. The name means “place of peace,“ which is fitting. Every part of the hotel was hand-crafted by Bhutanese master craftsmen and enriched with seemingly endless wood carvings and paintings. This place also serves as a great “base camp” for the steep and long hike to one of the most important religious sites in the Himalayas, Taktsang Lhakhang, the legendary “Tiger’s Nest.”

The next day we continued on to Thimphu, the capital and largest city of Bhutan with a population of approximately 70,000. Here you can find the most modern-day influences in all of Bhutan. We stayed at the majestic Taj Tashi hotel, which offers top-grade accommodations and comforts you would only expect in a major metropolis.

Shortly after our arrival, one of the highlights of our trip was about to take place at Thimphu’s Tashicho Dzong, an imposing fortress that was completely build by hand and without using a single nail. We had timed our itinerary to partake in the annual Thimphu Festival, one of the most important events on the Bhutanese calendar. The festivities began with an all-day archery contest, to which we were generously invited as honored guests. Archery is a national pastime in Bhutan, like baseball is in America or soccer in most parts of the world.

The boisterous and most colorful tshechu (festival) is held in the courtyard of the dzong to celebrate the life of Guru Rinpoche, a.k.a. Padmasmbhava, the 8th Century Indian saint who is revered for having brought Buddhism to the Himalayas. Bhutanese worshippers travel from near and far to attend this annual festivity. At the center of the celebration are religious dances, rooted in ancient liturgical traditions and performed in dazzling costumes and masks.

After two more days in Thimphu and environs, we set out for central Bhutan, driving east over the Dochu La (la means “pass”). In good weather, you can see from the summit the surrounding Himalayan mountain ranges 200 miles away. Our next destination was the Punakha Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most imposing. We lodged nearby at a comfortable resort, called the Amankora Punakha, a compound of structures reminiscent of traditional Bhutanese architecture but with all modern-day amenities added.

Bhutan is well known for its outstanding hospitality, but at the Amankora resort guest are treated like royalty. Private candle light dinners for honeymooners and lovers of all ages are served nightly in several small dining rooms of an old farmhouse at the center of the premises.

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