Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A wee break

A last minute decision saw us grappling for our passports at the end of last week. Downloading visa forms and diligently filling them in before our driver dropped them off at the Chinese Embassy, where he was given more forms, which we hurriedly completed and tried to drop off at the prescribed time.
Of course it was shut.
Open again at 8?
J went back at 8 the next morning (I had a meeting at the school) where there was a futile wait under the already hot Cambodian sun for some kind of action. He abandoned ship an hour later dripping under his long sleeved business shirt and suit pants. We still don't know when the office finally did open but Chunthy our driver eventually managed to hand in our documents in exchange for a receipt which said we would have visas on tuesday....thats today.
Sure enough Chunthy went back down to the Embassy after dropping me at the gym and was handed them on the spot.


So on thursday at midnight we get on a plane and end up here...



...somewhere we can fly direct from Phnom Penh...somewhere north about 3 and a half hours from Phnom Penh...have you guessed yet?


Shanghai, the largest city in China, famous for 'The Bund' a mile long wide footpath lined with fabulous old buildings along the bend (English for 'bund') in the Huangpu River- which is currently a huge construction site till 2010- and its ever changing modern skyline. I'm looking forward to being able to walk without breaking into an instant sweat, parks with big trees, Starbucks (even though where chains go I prefer Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf), Ikea, museums and art galleries and a week without housework. Cameras are charged, jeans are packed- well nearly I'm not really that organised- and school is almost out. See you on the other side...


4 comments:

Shalini said...

How cool! Last minute trips are so exciting :-)

Connie said...

Ooh! Have fun!

Natalie said...

Have a lovely time! Can't wait to see your photos and hear all about it. :)

Amanda said...

WOW! How cool it is to just take off to Shanghai! Hope you're having a great time.