After nearly 24 hours of travel, I’ve finally arrived in Dalian. My flight left about an hour late, but I wouldn’t have known, I fell asleep after boarding and woke up just as we were taking off. Sometimes exhaustion works in your favor. 😄

It’s now 11:15 p.m. in China — 8:15 a.m. back in Seattle, and my body is somewhere in between. Xue, who is staying with her mom, has been delayed by a day, so I’m heading to a hotel for the night. At this point, I only have one priority: sleep. A hot shower and a soft bed are sounding better by the minute.

Still, being back in Dalian stirs something in me. This is where Xue and I met, I always smile when I get to the luggage carousel. I don’t remember which one I first saw her at, but walking past them still brings that memory to the surface.

Tomorrow starts with something simple: a good breakfast buffet. That’s been my rule traveling in China, always pick a hotel with a solid breakfast spread. For a Westerner, it’s the safest and easiest way to ease into the day. Trust me. 😉

Time to rest. A new chapter begins in the morning.

See, breakfast is where it’s at 😊