Friend's Songkran picture taken in front of her business. Ready to splash the next passer by.
Day 2
After arriving in Xiamen CHINA, satisfied now that continuing was the right thing to do. With some food and rest I had another series of lines to progress through.
March Last year on my way home from Phuket I learned a very important lesson about World Travel. If your flight stops twice in the same country. One of those flights is domestic and you need a visa. No Problem. China actually allows for most countries citizens to get a transit visa just show the your itinerary. (sound effects: Think of Peanuts, "ARGHHH in the tune of Charlie Brown) This made so much clearer the importance of that little paper I left on my desk at work just before going to the Airport.
As a note: my first trip by myself, 1st time came here in November 2016, to help a friend with Parkinson's. So he could share his great story of experimental DBS surgery. After becoming incapacitated and then given three months to live, became functional. That amazing event caused to become walking talking advocate of the treatment. I mean litterly...after deciding other people must feel as depressed as he was.They needed to know.
So he set off on a walk from Tijuana, Mexico through California and deep into Oregon, before turning back home. After that walk. He walked up to a table of men at a Denny's and told us his story. I got his number and later did an interview with him. So impressed and inspired with his story and his mission to tell it. I found out he had an interest in doing his walk and talk in Thailand. I told him I would help him get there. Later I just took him there myself.
Ok well that's what got us to the point where I was, now trying to prove to the Chinese immigration supervisor that I was only passing through his wonderful country. I showed him the scribbles of flight numbers in my pocket calendar, shook my already dead phone saying no Wifi. Making sure he knew my friend was also in the same predicament. It must have clicked. He pointed his finger in my face and with the harshest tone he could muster, YOU LEAVE CHINA TODAY!" Yes sir I replied wham went the stamp and his scribbled initials. And a few seconds later we were on our way to a 14 hour layover in the terminal down the street headed to Shanghai.
Well after that detour we are back to this trip, all ready with the needed information available and phone charged. I hand the officer my passport and temporary arrival card. He says "no visa." "I only need what gets me to the next plane, and the plane after that." He said OK. Stamp, scribble and I'm on my way.
A few more lines, check points, shuttles and 2 planes, and a van from the Airport to Patong. Hotel bed here I come.
