This weekend I took a short trip to China to play golf. I had been conducting business all week in South Korea, and this week I am in Thailand. I thought a short excursion to China would be a welcome break. Plus, I had never played golf there.

I played at Weihai Point Golf Club and Resort, which is owned by Kumho Asiana Group (also the owner of Asiana Airlines). The course is one of the most interesting and challenging courses I have ever played. Move over Pebble Beach, which has seven holes  on the water. The Weihai course runs the holes along a peninsula, with 14 holes directly on the water and the rest just a stone’s throw away.

The weather was an issue as the temperature had dropped to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind (as I had predicted) was gusting at 40 m.p.h. So, take the best of Pebble Beach and merge it with the wind aspects of the Old Course — and you have Weihai. I am told that in the warmer months, there is very comfortable weather, as this region of China has minimal rainfall and virtually no humidity. Make sure you keep an eye out for my GTee golf report on Weihai coming soon.

I was also pleased to see how dedicated the Chinese government is being to keeping tabs on the H1N1, or swine flu, outbreak. I think I had swine flu three months ago. When you arrive in China, passengers are required to complete a lengthy health questionnaire. While this is reviewed, they scan your temperature from behind the desk. It all happens so quickly, though, that you really have no idea what is going on! The Chinese government was harshly criticized for the poor efforts during the SARS and Bird Flu outbreaks, which appear to be far more serious than H1N1. The criticism has forced them to be more diligent.

On the way out of China, I was able to rate the immigration inspector as Great, Good, Fair or Bad by pressing a little button. After my passport was stamped, I looked up at the rather serious gentleman in his official uniform and I said “Great” and hit the button!

– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

Today, I am off to Asia and looking forward to my Korean Air and EVA Air flights. I have back-to-back meetings from the minute I land at Incheon to the moment I return. I will also be visiting Bangkok and Taipei as part of this trip.

I am really looking forward to playing golf at Weihai Point Golf & Resort in China this weekend. Fourteen holes are positioned on the Yellow Sea, and many of these holes sit on a narrow peninsula. I am sure the wind will play a huge factor in aim and club selection. The first six holes play along the peninsula and are about 30 to 100 feet above the waves of the Yellow Sea below. The par five that measures 500 yards requires a tee shot of 220 yards to carry the sea and make the fairway. I am looking forward to seeing which member of my group makes this shot! This hole’s green sits on a cliff and is guarded by six pot bunkers.

The course was opened a year ago and it should prove exciting! Hey, how often does one get the chance to play golf in China?

– Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO

When did it become November? I’m not ready for Halloween to be over or for the bitter cold to set in. Of course, time passes whether you’re prepared for it or not, and, it seems, the less prepared you are, the more quickly it flies. This past May, I was fortunate enough to journey to Thailand and China. The trip lasted 13 days, but it felt more like three.

It was my first time traveling alone, and my destination was Bangkok via a quick transfer in Beijing. Oh, how nervous I was boarding that flight! Luckily, Alex Young happened to be flying out of JFK the same day and we met up in Lufthansa’s business-class lounge. It helped to be waiting with someone I knew as I anxiously anticipated what it would be like in a few hours, when I wouldn’t recognize a soul.

I almost didn’t make it to Bangkok. My flight to Beijing was delayed due to stormy weather in Canada and I had to literally sprint from one terminal to the next, doing my best to keep up with the flight attendant in front of me. The attendant was in excellent shape, unlike myself. It was a relief, to say the least, when I made the flight. Five hours later, I touched down in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. If only my luggage made the trip with me.

The Four Seasons, by the new Siam Paragon Mall in downtown Bangkok, turned what could have been a disaster into a minor inconvenience. When I checked in (around 1 a.m.) and told them about my suitcase situation, they immediately set about calling the airport and grabbing things I would need — toothbrush, toothpaste, pajamas, anything and everything. Reassured that the future of my trip was in safe hands, I slept very soundly that night. Sure enough, the hotel was able to get my things to me by the next morning. I think telling the concierge that my malaria medication was in my bag helped speed the process along.

My first — and only — full day in Bangkok began at 9 a.m. with a tour of the Temples of the Grand Palace. As an ex-anthropology/archaeology major, I was in heaven. There, before my eyes, was the Emerald Buddha, a large model of the Angkor Wat and various vibrant tile designs detailing Bangkok’s history. Following the temples, my guide and I took a boat ride along the canal, past floating markets, houses that defied the laws of gravity and a Komodo dragon! After a quick stop to see Wat Arun, it was, sadly, time to head back to the hotel.

I awoke the next morning around 4:30 a.m. and grabbed my newly arrived luggage to head back to the airport. It was time for the next leg of my journey and the main reason I had come to Asia in the first place. I was headed to Chiang Rai, in the center of the Golden Triangle, and a temporary base camp for Pencils for Kids, Inc.

– Kate Gallagher, advertising and editorial coordinator

What are the odds?

A few weeks ago, I blogged about my trip to Greece. I failed to mention the would-you-believe-it way my trip began. In the car, on the way to JFK, I was working on some last-minute business. I wanted to start unwinding as soon as possible! As my friend and I approached the terminal, I looked about 50 yards ahead and said, “Hey, that looks like Fran,” as in Fran Gallagher,  GT’s publisher and CEO.  I dismissed the thought quickly. I figured it was because I had work on the brain that I thought I was seeing Fran’s doppelganger. After all, Fran lives in Pennsylvania and prefers to  fly from Newark or Philadelphia, as it can be quite a hike to JFK. It was a long shot.

As we got closer to the spot where the look-a-like was standing, I realized it really was Fran! He was with his daughter, Kate, who was on her way to Thailand. Coincidentally, we were both flying out of the same terminal at the same time, but on different carriers! I was flying Olympic Airlines, and Kate was flying Air China to Bangkok, via Beijing.

The odds of bumping into anyone in New York City, especially when you are not looking for them, are unimaginable to me. I can only imagine the odds are even higher at one of the busiest international hubs in the United States!  I found Fran again at the security line and we even discussed a little business. I found Kate, and we enjoyed some time in the Lufthansa lounge before our departures!

–Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

Bidding in our charity auction closes this Friday. As you read this blog, Pencils for Kids, Inc., Global Traveler’s selected charity, is in Thailand, ready to make the first delivery of supplies to disadvantaged children.

My daughter, Kate Gallagher, is joining Loretta Jitner, founder and CEO, PFK, on this journey.

I took Kate to JFK on Thursday to catch her Air China flight 982 to Beijing, with a connection to Bangkok on flight 797. I tracked her flight, which was already delayed due to the late arrival of equipment, on flightstats.com. The flight, on its way to Beijing via the North Pole, was taking several turns to avoid bad weather over Canada. The lost time on the ground was further exacerbated by these maneuvers in flight. In Beijing, Kate had to run with an Air China agent to her flight and was driven to the plane, which had already pulled from the gate!

As you guessed, her luggage did not arrive till the next day, but getting to Bangkok was crucial. She was able to see some of the city sights before starting her adventure in Chiang Rai. The PFK team will be delivering hundreds of backpacks to the orphanages in this region.

Please go to our auction website and bid to help this worthy cause!

-Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO