Time for a Visa Run - to Manila!

Sunday, June 8, 2014 - It's already time for a visa run. Because of my visa requirements, I have to leave the country every 60 days. I can't believe I've been here in China for 60 days. Time is going by so fast.

Connie and I decided we should got to Manila Philippines. There's a temple in Manila, the flights were cheap, and there was timeshare available there so we had a place to stay. Getting there was quite the adventure!!

We arrived at the train station and it was of course crazy busy with tons of people.  We went through security and headed upstairs only to find out that we had to purchase tickets somewhere else.  We went back downstairs and back outside and looked around and finally found the ticket office down the corridor and to the side corner of the station.  We got in a line and slowly made progress for just over 30 minutes.  The person 2 spots ahead of us took FOREVER figuring out their tickets.  Finally, they finished and the ticket attendant put up a sign, lowered their blinds half way and we were told that the last person they would help was the person in front of us!!!!!  AAAARGH!!!!!!  We had waited all that time and were worried about getting to the train we wanted and now we had to start all over at the end of one of the 10 other very long lines!!!  

Suzhou Train Station

We went around to another line and by that time, Connie and I figured out that the digital board above each window told what time frames it would be open.  In hindsight, now I realize that we could have stayed there and it would have opened up 30 minutes later, but at the time I figured out that system we were all ready in other lines.  I got in one line and Connie got in another line for a window that was scheduled to open in 15-20 minutes.  So about 15 minutes later, I made it to the window and we bought tickets for the bullet train to Shanghai.  The problem we now have is that the train we are scheduled on doesn't leave until after 7 pm and our flight to Manila leaves at 11:45 pm. We aren't sure we can make it!

The massive crowd we had to battle to get a train ticket!

Some of the shirts you see here in China just make you laugh. I wonder if they even know what they mean. This guys was standing in front of us the first time we were in line.

Connie in line for the 2nd time

Finally !!! 

Ticket in hand! We can now get on the train!

Connie and I hurried to get back through security and up to the platforms.  Brother Hiatt had told us that if we couldn’t get a ticket for the train we wanted then we should try to see if a security person would let us through and then just hop on an earlier train. We couldn't take the train we had a ticket for or we would miss the flight, so we decided to take Brother Hiatt's advice. Connie and I watched the train schedule board and figured out what the next train to Shanghai was that we could take.  Next problem: your tickets won’t let you through the metered gate until only 15 minutes before the train leaves.  We can’t get through the gate AND we can’t find a security or gate agent to negotiate with!!!  AARGH!!!  Very stressful.

We decide to place ourselves with the group that is waiting to enter the platforms.  We start watching people trying to figure out a plan.  When they authorize the next set of tickets for the train we want – which we DO NOT have tickets for – we watch and wait to see if an agent will come.  Connie was watching and saw a man slide through the gate entrance right behind another person who does have the correct ticket.  Viola!!!  We have a solution and plan. Connie told me to place myself a few people behind her and to slip through she was going to do. I stood back and watched Connie squish her way into line and get right behind the person in front of her. She stayed right on his heels and got through to the platform.  Connie just keep walking as if nothing happened and I lost her in the crowd of people. 

I waited for a couple of seconds, scoping out people that were going through. I had to find the right person, that didn't have luggage so that I could get on their heels and follow them through. I felt like I was in some top secret mission trying to not act suspicious but crowd watching to make sure that I had the right person. I figured I only had one shot to do this without drawing attention. I found the right person and got through the security. Next problem: I lost Connie in the crowd and can't seem to find her. I just kept walking hoping I would find her along the path to the platform. I was nervous! One because I'm in China and have not traveled by train before. and Two, I just breached security!! What is going to happen. I hear over the intercom something about "Lianga Mei guo ren" which with my little Chinese all I know is that is 2 American people.  Were they talking about me and Connie?! I just tried to stay calm and hope for the best. 

Finally, I found Connie and we went down the escalator to the train platform. We just stayed congregated with the people because we then realize that we are with the group of people for the train before the one we want.  We just sort of hang out there until the group of people are authorized and come through for the train we want then we just mosey on over to the platform for the train we want.

On the Platform

The train came about 20 minutes later, we still haven’t been arrested and we board the train.  Brother Hiatt had told us to go to the dining car if we didn't have a seat on the train we boarded but that plan failed because the dining car was tiny and it was packed full.  We just found a wall space between cars with a few other people and waited.  The train departed and we were on it and still hadn't been arrested. 

Just a couple of minutes after the train departed, a ticket agent came by and asked for our tickets.  My heart stopped.  We handed her our tickets, she looked at them for a minute and then she punched the bottom edge of the ticket and handed them back and walked away.  We weren't kicked off the train and no one came to arrest us to our relief. We stood the whole 26 minutes to the Shanghai Railway Station but, we at least had a chance of making our flight.

The Dining Car

We arrived in Shanghai at the main railway station and got off the train. We followed the signs to find subway Line 2 which took us to Peoples Square. We had to switch to subway Line 1. We wandered through this maze at Peoples Square and followed the big arrows on the floor. We past this really random display for Old Navy (Have never seen an Old Navy store here in China yet) which was filled with all kinds of flip flops. Some things in China just make me wonder what people are thinking. 

We and boarded subway Line 1 to go all the way to the end to the Pudong International Airport.  We were now in good shape time-wise, but it was quite stressful up to this point!!! 

On the Subway

Funny Signs in the Subway Station

What a happy site!

We arrived at the airport and found the airline ticket counter to get checked in. There are quite a few funny pictures along the journey from getting off the subway until we got checked in. Maybe I was tired and stressed from the journey that I was laughing at everything. We got checked in and encountered some additional stresses there as my bag had to have an extra security check. It turned out to me nothing and we headed to the gate. 

Pudong International Airport

Glad they can tell us where we are! Just made me laugh! 

Really! You want to stick your tongue out at people?!

I've never seen a wall sign dedicated to the layout of toilets. Hmmm!

We made it to the airport in time so we had a couple of hours to wait before we boarded our plane. We brought water bottles and were looking for water to fill them up. People do not drink ice water here. We found a water station that claimed to have "cool" water but that really is still very hot water. It's just not boiling. We had to let our water bottles cool down before we could drink them. 

We found a little place to eat and I couldn't believe what they had on the menu. Translations just make me laugh!! We did not eat it. We had some pizza and french fries.

We boarded our red-eye flight to Manila Philippines. Of course, this isn't an easy process like any other flight. We had another security bag check when we got to the gate. We waited there until boarding which consisted loading a bus which took us out to the tarmac where we found the plane. We had to climb up the stairs to the plane. This was a new experience for me. I've never had to climb up the stairs to the plane. 

On the bus to the plane

Our plane -- reminds me of the move Planes :)

And of course...I have to document the snacks that they gave us while on the flight. Some of these snacks, like the Aviation Radish, was just not edible.

Snacks on plane to Manila