a wasted day

One hour before the arrival time of the Greek group, or half an hour earlier than usual, the driver and I were already driving in the direction of the airport, considering the new security checks on the high way might consume some time.

After some discuss about this group, we quickly shifted our attention to the news. Just one day before, there were two explosions on local public buses in Kunming, the capital of southern Yunnan province; AND, also in a Tibetan lamasery in Gansu, a northern western province, an explosion consumed two lives. We were not sure if any such would happen in our city, but soon the driver kinda comforted by explaining Shanghai, so close by, should be a better target choice than our lesser known hometown, for those terrorists. After a brief happy moment, we quickly fell into a long silence when our van smoothly crossed the bridge and was stopped at the toll gate.

The toll gate has been neglected for many years, since the city has abolished charging anything from vehicles to and from the airport. However, it was very busy today, at its six lines, many security personnel were stopping each passing vehicles. We followed the line and a blue uniform approached us asking
' where to? where from? which district of the city from?'
Our answers made a satisfactory impact and soon we were gestured to leave. Both of us wondered if such questions could help ; or if they do, do the answers, perhaps honest or dishonest, help tracking every routes of potential terrorists.

We drove forward another 10 minutes when we were getting to the second toll gate. But this time almost immediately we tried to slow down and pull in, a woman signaled us to go. Good impression we have not to be considered as two bad guys.

The van arrived at the terminal building around 10:10 am. Perfect timing ! The 7 Greek tourists were to land at 10:20. I got off the van and walked to enter. The second I was inside, I noticed there were a red zig-zag line, guarded by some young boys and girls along a table and some machine. Very politely they explained that it's new regulation. Besides the security check before boarding, all people have to take the first security check. Obviously they were interested in only my should bag. With a little panel device, a young man slowly inspected the zipper and edge, only the surface. Then a small piece of result note poped out of the panel, and it was inserted into the machine. I was freed after no threats were confirmed.

I quickly ran to Mcdonald's and got a orange juice. It was a hot day. But hardly before I finished, there went the announcement about the arrival of the flight from Xi'an. They were coming, 4 adults and 3 teenagers. So I went to the exit to wait. The airport of Hangzhou is a small one, the arrival terminal having only two luggage belts. And from outsides, it's easy to see through the large glass door every going-ons.

From Belt A, there were four flights, from Xi'an and Guangzhou etc. The airport staff were very patient, checking each claim tag of so many groups, which made a big mess and a little riots. Guessing between flights and groups, I was waiting there for about 4o minutes already,still all in vain. And when the claim area was finally clear and empty, I had waited for one hour. I had a veird guess. The group was not coming! I waited for aother fifteen minutes till other batch of arrival flights information appeared on the monitor.

I called up to the office to inform my manager of the accident. Minutes later I was called back. I could leave, as the manager said. So full of anticipation and glory, I accomplished a very speicial inspection tour to the security situation of the airport, successfully. And meanwhile, I sincerely hope those Greeks didn't have any trouble with China's security checks. Good luck!

Every Monday is...

In great effort to call on good manners of its citizens, Hangzhou city government has named every Monday of a week, as a special Day to kindly offer your seats on public buses to those in need, including the elderly, the weak, the sick and the pregrant passengers.

The practise has aroused much debate though. Here's a popular survey; imagine you as a young person, returning from a long and late night work, when in the bus, is surrounded by the elderly people who just finish their morning exercise, would you give away your seat?

Yes or no?On the web, 33% voted 'yes', 22% expressed negative and the rest 45% suggested 'it depends'.

my next trip

It took me about a week to decide where to go for this August, extremely free thanks to the Olympics. And as my dearest destination of Nepal has to be postponed again due to the unrest situation there, finding somewhere interesting, hopefully equally, seemed once a difficult mission to accomplish.

And so when I told my friends that I was going to Bali island, Indonesia and Malaysia, as expected, they showed doubt. ' you have just returned from Hainan island, why do you do beaches again?' 'but, wait, there are much more than beaches in bali;or should be.', which actually sounded more like to convince doubtful myself.

'and why Malaysia?' 'oh, because its promotional advertisement about its tourism on CNN was just great. And another reason is, Air Asia, the cheap airliner flies directly between Hangzhou and Kuala Lumper at good rates.

So, W. almost immediately agreed to come with me, even before I worked out my itinerary yet. Since as the summer vacation started, going out to see the world surely is a good way to kill the time. Another friend, A. was almost convinced, but next day backed out because since A. successfully located another partner to travel with to Cambodia and Thailand, the dream places to them.

We, two of us plan to travel between Aug. 16-30, to Yogyakarta, Bali cities of Indonesia and Kuching, Meluca and Kuala Lumper of Malaysia, while A. and friend between Aug. 15-31 to the neighbour countries. How interesting!

story of currency exchange

At counter 12, Bank of China, I was ready to exchange some Canadian money to Chinese. The big screen showed that the rate was 6.62, (a little higher compared to two weeks ago, ranging between 6.4-6.5.),

' and please, what's rate for American dollar, cash then?'

The staff flipped the keyboard, 'it's 6.74.'

'And what's trading rates between American dollar and Canadian dollar, then?' I remember same day in the morning, I noticed it was about 0.99 to 1.00.

The girl checked and informed me. ' Buying and selling rates are : 0.9999 /1.0036.'

I was puzzled, ' how come then? If US dollar 's value is similar to Canadian currency, why the rate of Canadian to Chinese is being so low. That's so veird and strange.'

The girl was puzzled too, but she insisted. 'It's the system set by our bank. I don't know.' Okay, then, I decided to keep the Canadian money on my account book, for at least three days ( from the girl, their policy again.)

But seconds after I walked out of the head branch of Bank of China in Zhejiang Province, I realized I could do something else. Of course I didn't go back then, hating for its extremely long waiting quene. About 10 minutes' walk away, there's another Bank of China branch.

The manager was puzzled too. 'If you would like to exchange to Chinese from Canadian, why do you need to do twice.' By Twice, my plan was to exchange from Canadian to American first, then from American to Chinese. I did the first step of trade on its self-serive machine, the got traded at 1.0028 , then to Chinese from American dollar at 6.74. All in all, after these trouble, I traded my Canadian to Chinese at 6.72, 0.1 higher than the bank rate 6.62.

LOL.

lotus season

guizhou

During our 25 days' trip across China, from north to south, Guiyang, the capital of southwestern Guizhou province, is obviously our favourite. The reason is really simple. Above all, the temperature was most welcomingly, cool, with the high only about 25. What a surprise, when compared to most other scorching cities. Even Harbin, located near the border between China and Russia, welcomed us warmly with 35 (95 degrees) in the early June.

The places of interest are more green and natural, including the magnificent waterfall of Huangguoshu, big caves, underground rivers and as well, mountains beyond mountains along the drive. Besides, we enjoyed the minority performances at a Miao village, which was great fun. And for the first time for me even, a local opera, called dixi, highly praised as living fossil opera, is legendary and magically preserved here after it was first brought about 400-500 years by the Ming soldiers into this area to guard China's southern border. In the surburb many villiagers,descedents of these army, still wear special Chinese costume today, the style as our ancestors wore five hundreds ago on mainland. Wandering on small alleys at these some small but lovely small towns (qiyan town) made us feel like being in different century.

However something I wonder, is why the men here liked smoking so much, almost every man, every where. Is this too a heritage from hundreds ago? Another pity was we didn't try good foods here, instead some boring and unclean places. So in the end we even declared we could go to KFC.

a day not to be forgotten

Soon after the group left for Hong Kong I checked in at a guesthouse just located about 100 meters off the beach of Sanya Bay. Instead of taking the sea-view room I'd booked, I decided to take a room facing the garden, for it was much quieter and farther away from its restaurant and bar in its reception area. To be honest, the facility was not star-rated but acceptable with air conditioner and private hot water shower for 128 yuan/night. I thought I would go to bed immediately, but couldn't help feeling excited about having a little walk by that facts: one, I was liberated finally after 25 days; two, the beach and the sea were only one minute's walk away. It was already 10 pm and the beach was peaceful and lovely dark, except some locals sitting under the trees, or walking on the sands and occasionally some flying balloon lights. How wonderful a way it is to fly one's wishes so high and elegant into the night sky.

I walked on the soft sand for about half an hour. The soothing sounds of waved were still echoing on me like a lullaby, after I hit the bed back to the guesthouse. I told myself tomorrow should be a lazy day and I WOULDN'T need to get up early. Even so, next morning around 5:30, I was awake. A typical symptom after a busy trip. The balcony was empty and the view of the sea from its 11 floor seemed blue and cool. I quietly sneaked out and ran there: the only destination.

The water, blue like sapphire, magically mirrored the fluffy clouds in the sky, while the morning breeze gentle like friends' hugs and sounds of waves as sweet as lovers' sweet murmurs. I wonder how the locals would feel about their lives, walking with family and dogs, fishing, exercising taiji and dealing for fish and shrimp at morning bazar. What I felt?! A totally new person. A curious traveller photographing everything from every angle, hopelessly wet and messy, with soaked shorts and sneaker full of sand. I stayed hours under the tall palm trees, doing nothing but gazing at the sea and sky, knowing this is the right type of vacation I like.

Before the air was warm, I rose and walked back to shower and pack before checkout at 12. I had a thai-style fish at a western restaurant, praised to be the best in town, called coffee time. To me, after the morning, the lunch was just no surprise. But afterwards the reading in the breezy balcony back at the guesthouse was gorgeous and pleasant.

Still hesitating to leave, in the taxi car to the airport, I asked the driver to open the window to absorb every beach, every tree, every cloud and every breeze. The last surprise was from the driver, who'd been driving very safely, smiled kindly,saying 'thank you' to me and wished me a nice flight. But,don't you know, Ms driver,surely it's me who should say thanks, to you and your city of Sanya for such a wonderful and memorable day.