mr & mrs nicktay + 1

Last I left you, we were on board the plane headed to Beijing. We finally arrived at about 3:30am, and was greeted by a China Airlines staff, who I must add, spoke NO English except 3 words. Delay, Hotel, Here. Really. She gave much more instructions in Mandarin, and because I had experience all this delays before, I knew what was in store for me. I headed towards passport control, and there was this South African white girl who looked lost. She asked me what to do, and I gladly gave her instructions. “You travel allot. Its good to know people like you”, said she. And so she ended up lining up behind me at passport control. I waited a few seconds and then it was my turn.

(The entire conversation is actually in Mandarin)
Me : Hello.
Passport Controller : Hello.
Me : Here is my passport.
Passport Controller : Ok. (She looks and stares at the passport for a good 10 minutes).
Please take off your glasses.
Me : Ok. Sure.
Passport Controller : When was this picture taken?
Me : Not sure. When was the passport issued again?
Passport Controller : June 2006.
Me : Then thats when the picture was taken.
Passport Controller : You look very different now!
Me : How? Am I darker? More handsome? Thinner? How different.
Passport Controller : You can go now.

Haha. I then waited for Miss South Africa, and she asked me what was wrong? I told her the story and she just laughed. “I was fishing for compliments, but she gave none. Sigh. They never compliment me”. And she goes,”After 24 hours of transit, lets see how fresh she looks!”.

We waited for our bags, and finally they arrive. I see the Family of French ladies, and they try and get compensation for the delay. In Europe, you can 70% of your ticket price back if your delayed more than 18 hours, she tells me. She asks for my help to translate, but the Air China girl will only say 3 words ,”Hotel this way”.

I bid a due to my Brazilian, South African and Belgium friends, as their journeys bring us to different places. I continue on with the American, who walks with me to the line where the hotel is. There stands a Chinese Man who is from Air China, who speaks even less English. We show him our tickets and he scribbles down the flight times. He turns away this pair of Mongolians because their connecting flight is not confirmed, though they don’t understand him, and keep asking him why. Finally we are sent to a bus which ferries us to a hotel….

More on Part 4.

On this day in History..

• Of Wireless Internet.... - 2005
• If Daddy or Joey doesn't come, would you give me away.... - 2005
• Naadam : Traditional Costumes Galore - 2006
• Mongol Pride - 2006
• Blast From The Past Meme - 2006
• Sydney is glad to be back at Home! - 2007
• The Journey That Took A Wea Bit Too Long :- Part 4 - 2007
• Desperado - 2007
• The state of our boys in blue - 2008
• Now I know which flag this is! - 2008
• Fighting morning sickness - 2009