Guangzhou, 14 January 2008

I’m in Guangzhou, on the way to Xi’an and totally exhausted, but strangely enough, after heaps of anxiety on leaving Australia (to do with visa issues), I am beginning to feel good. I guess once again I was worrying for nothing. It really doesn’t pay. Que sera sera. Visa issues – would they let me into the country with a tourist visa and a one-way ticket? In the end it wasn’t an issue at all. Try that getting into Australia! But I guess there aren’t that many foreigners trying to get into China and stay there illegally. ;-)

The flight with China Southern Airlines was OK, but nothing to write home about. (Pun intended.) When the meals came, my booked vegetarian one wasn't amongst them. The stewardess came back with a list, which had my name crossed out on it. It turned out that with this airline you have to confirm your special meal at the time of check-in. I guess there are heaps of vegetarians that convert back to being a carnivore on the way to the airport, so this measure is entirely justified... In that case, just don’t mention anything and your meal will automatically revert to the default meat option. Go figure!

Anyway, now I am at the airport in Guangzhou, after having enjoyed a bowl of soup – no animal stock, they assure me – and a banana milkshake. These are giving me a bit of energy, although I’m going to need a good night night’s sleep or two.
Tonight I will spend the night with Pin, after a four month wait. It feels good to be getting close and it will be good to have company at night again, after a long wait, although I’m sure tonight I’ll sleep like a log.

PS You know you’re in China, when you’re surrounded by smokers in a restaurant. In Australia, this would be a triple whammy – it’s indoors, a public place (airport!) and it’s in a restaurant. (I got a table at the wrong end of ‘prevailing winds’, ha ha.)