[zook]

"Should consider postponing..."

Here's my dilemma. We're in Taiwan this year, and we've planned for months to visit a dear friend, our daughter's godmother, in Beijing. This was to be the highlight of our year here, to see our friend, to visit the Great Wall, etc.

Now this. We're scheduled to leave from Kaohsiung on Friday, passing through Hong Kong airport.

As of now, we haven't cancelled. Why? Here's my [perhaps tortured] logic. We'll have the highest quality surgical masks. We'll be passing through a virtually empty airport. Our plane will be virtually empty. We'll take high precautions while in the airport and on the plane. We note that despite all the warnings, *most people* who have traveled through Hong Kong have not become ill. If we cancel this trip, we really won't have another chance for many years.

Half the people I know here in Pingtung think I'm wrong to go. The other half say, be careful and go.

What a spot to find oneself.

[Justice]

It would be a lot worse if you and your family got SARS.

[BurbankKarl]

Are you going by Chinese figures here? My friend's dad is in Hong Kong, they are out of masks, people are frightened because they know the government doesn't level with him.

You might be quarantined coming back....or worse, have no flights to come back on.


>>> We note that despite all the warnings, *most people* who have traveled through Hong Kong have not become ill.

[Arkinsaw]

Half the people I know here in Pingtung think I'm wrong to go. The other half say, be careful and go.

When the UN tells you not to go to Hong Kong, China you know its serious. It has to be serious for them to do ANYTHING that would affect trade in China. No way, would I go.

[Enemy Of The State]

Why not reroute your trive via Narita to Beijing? Im sure it would cost a bit more but certainly the risks to your family wouldn't be as high either.

[twigs]

I was with a friend from Beijing last night when she called her parents to check on how they were doing. They said that four people who live in their area had come down with SARS and they had been given medication to take for it. They live near Beijing University.

[PoisedWoman]

Sounds like a fascinating trip,zook. I would suggest keeping your masks on while on the plane, as air is recirculated on the darned things. Since this virus can apparently live for awhile on things like banisters, elevator buttons, doorhandles, etc., I would also take along a large box of rubber gloves, keep them on at all times, change them frequently, and remember to wash hands as often as you can. Carefully, in public restrooms, where you don't want to touch anything! My doctor friend stresses handwashing for those who go out in public...trains, busses, even supermarkets, certainly at tourist attractions and airports where people congregate from all over the world.

I believe in keeping one's health in optimum condition, taking large amounts of vitamins daily, especially Vitamin c, up to three GRAMS daily. I do it as a matter of course. In case disease strikes, you're more able to fight it off.

Tell us about your trip when ou return!