Day 1, so risky

'It's so risky! ' said two girls from Shanghai, who I just met. They must have heard of my conversation with Air asia check-in staff.

When I showed my e-ticket itinerary to the counter, the girl checked it very carefully as well as my other tickets, like the other from Bangkok to Yangon, Myanmar,which would take off at noon time, next day; and she said to me she could not check me in, because: one, I don't have valid visa to Thailand, two, I don't have the return ticket back to China.

'But I can apply the visa-upon-arrival at the airport.'
'Theoretically, but in the morning same day, several Chinese were kicked back. And the visa policy of Thailand is always changeable towards Chinese people.Besides, you don't have the return flight ticket.'

While I was still debating, there came a supervisor. After hearing out her report, he said, if the outbound from Bangkok is within 12 hours from the incoming one to Bangkok,, he could check me in with this flight. But you have to apply for the visa and enter, and then depart.'

I thanked him but meanwhile questioning, only inside myself: do I really need a visa, since my next flight Bangkok airways does has a transit counter within the airport. Theoretically, I wouldn't need to go out the airport area, right? I would check this out soon at Bangkok airport.

After all, this little success almost moved me to tears, why do Chinese people have so much troubles traveling abroad? Then the two girls came up and agreed with the air asia. After brief chat, we all found out surprisingly, our program being so alike, including the cities to visit and days of stay in Myanmar and northern Thailand, although there was a little difference with the order of destinations to go.

So now with the boarding pass, tickets and passport, I stumbled to the customs and immigration check, which would be my last hurdle to cross.
The young officer taking my files checked carefully again and again and raised several questions. But in the end, he didn't stamp on my passport, instead, he called to another officer, possibly his supervisor. He came from three booth away and took me to a side bench and wait.

I saw him clicking on the computer for about two minutes, maybe checking my real identity in Zhejiang province (Xiamen is in Fujian province). Then he returned and gestured me to follow him back to the original booth. He murmured something to his man and walked away. I thanked him too, knowing definitely I was safe now.

Yes, I was safe. The man chopped a red stamp on my passport, which it took me a long time to locate later. I passed.
When I thought back, all that I experience must have been pretty new to the airliner and the customs and immigration. But if one tiny doubt cast, my plan would go doomed.In the lobby, while waiting for boarding, already about 9, I thanked god, and buddha so much in my heart.

The girls were very excited too for me. They played everything safe, getting everything ready in Shanghai. (yes, if I lived there, things would be much easier for me too. There is one Thailand embassy in Shanghai.) Typical of Shanghai girls, they immediately investigated my job, marriage status, and even the total amount of my travel funds. I tried to pretend to be generous when they asked my beautiful book cover, which actually became a token between three of us.

Air asia is free seating. On their very small red piece of people( 4 cm*1 cm), there was no seat number at all. The earlier you get aboard, the more choices you have. Resting behind the long line, I asked them, way ahead of me to find a seat together with them.
Among the hundred-odd passengers, they, me and another two girls( judged from their bags and outfits) were most probably, the only tourists.

I was almost the last one to get on the plane. It was much more spacious than Chunqiu; also I like their black leather seat cover; the Thai attendants, not so tall, but with good tan, wore red suit with low-cut white shirt underneaths . Looked great!

I saw the girls in the end. Smart enough, one taking a window, and the other, aisle one. Very few would like to squeeze in between right? So that one was all for me. Thank you.

Even though we all felt the night and sleepiness, we( maybe me) were so excited, we talked talked and talked for hours... quietly but pleasant. We exchanged our contacts when it was almost landing and wished we could meet somewhere during this trip, maybe in Myanmar, maybe in Thailand, if we were destined .

Yes we were!