What a travel day!

Back on the plan again today, to Macau. Grandfather finally passed away late last night. So I made the track southward from Shanghai.

Booked myself online on Dragon Airline; it had hourly flights to HK. Great I thought. I could finish running my errands, got my much needed monthly haircut (have to look proper, not shaved yet though; that's for Saturday), then I could take the taxi to Pudong Airport trying to catch an earlier flight. Well, seemed there was a force making me "sweat". Everything liked clock work with my errands. Even my hairstylist got a taxi waiting outside for me. It all started when we left the salon. Good thing the taxi driver was an experienced old hand. His licence started in the 190,000 range.

10 minutes into the ride. Traffic jam as far as we both could see on the freeway. There was no reason for it, just like Regina. Just dumb drivers; and here worse. No one wanted to give way! We inched forward. Finally after 20 minutes of that, we were free only to encountered another road block. Bridge refurnishing. We were routed to a little side street. 4 lanes of traffic squeezing into 3. And those dumb asses from the intersection turning left into another rest area totally blocked the in and out. Squeezed thru that light after 10 minutes. We were on our way. Now, much better speed. We could make up time. The driver was driving like Grand Thief Auto 6! No, there is no 6 came out yet. We made it in just over an hour with a total distance of 46KM. And the time was 2:35pm, I left the salon at 1:25pm.

I was hoping to catch the 3:30pm flight. No such luck. Full. And the next hour and the hour that, both flights were delayed by over 45 minutes. Great. So I got on the 430pm flight leaving at 5:15pm. Lounge I went. 2 hours! Agh... Once boarded, the plan did not push off until 5:30pm; then, lighting problem with the plane. We had to circle around the airport while the pilot rebooting computers. Right, Airbus.... So, we left at 600pm. Party!! Of course, I had to have a guy filled with smoke on his clothes to sit next to me! Asia! The unfiltered type!

Things were smoothed out once airborn. Dinner, my Indian vegetarian special meal. Ah, nice... spicy... Better than the India House back in Regina. A glass of wine, the re-run of Friends. And the Just for laugh clips..... 2 hours and 10 minutes later we landed in HKG.

Much smoother just how I liked it. The plane parked at the gate only 600m from the Immigration Hall. I walked quickly toward it. But why was there always a woman with big wide asses with two big bags walking in the middle of the walkway? Taking up the entire width and walked slowly as if she owned the place. (Sorry ladies, I only saw more of this in Asia). I actually had to say "excuse me" and continued my trek. Zip thru immigration with my special pass. As I walked toward the immigration, I saw this Western from my flight hiring a cart to take him to the immigration. The cost was HK50.00; hey buddy, you just got off a flight and you said too long. Walk! Get the blood flowing!

From the time I arrived HK to the time I arrived in the apartment in Macau, it was smooth. No hitch of any sort. I landed in HKG at 8:10pm, got to Macau/HK Ferry terminal at 9:00pm, bought the 930pm ferry, arrived in Macau at 10:35pm, home in the apartment by 10:55pm. Whew....

From the time I left the apartment this morning in Shanghai at 11:30am, I was in Macau's apartment at 10:55pm. Almost a 12-hour journey. Beat....

The next two days will be very busy. I have a scratchy throat. And not looking forward to being sick and tired and had to be up early and sleep late. 1:10am Friday morning now.... Getting ready for bed.