Yes, more travel woes. If I’m not complaining about airplanes, it’s gotta be something travel related!
What does it take to arrive in Linyi, China? The place is starting to feel a little like Shangri-la (the mythical wonderland that is virtually impossible to find.)
I long for the day that I leave one destination, Vancouver for example, and arrive to another, let’s say Shanghai, and I’m home. That’s it. One flight, one taxi ride. Instead, we arrive to Shanghai, spend an hour on the crosstown bus from one airport to another, only to find we’re 30 minutes too late for the once daily flight to Linyi. Not a problem, since it is possible to fly to Qingdao and take the early morning (and still only once daily) flight to Linyi. We fly to Qingdao, stay the night in a hotel and make our way back to the airport for check-in at 7AM.
“So sorry,” we are told, “the Linyi flight is cancelled due to bad fog in Linyi.” In fact, there has been no flight to Linyi for at least 3 days. Fine. Okay. Whatever. We’ll take the train. Except by this time, it is impossible to make the once daily train to Linyi. We rejected the bus option outright as a Chinese bus ride is never a fun or safe option. Finally, a compromise, we’ll rent a taxi for the three hour drive south, which will cost more or less the same as the flight. Except… the expressway to Linyi is closed due to the same blasted fog. Why is Linyi suddenly so inaccessible? Is it suddenly the new ‘Lost Horizon?’
We left Vancouver on Monday morning. It is now Wednesday morning and we are stuck. At least our company has an office in Qingdao to be stuck at.
***
It’s a few hours later. We heard the expressway was open so we decided to make a break for Linyi. We are in a taxi (the driver so far seems only a little crazy) that we flagged down off the street and convinced to drive us to Linyi for the equivalent of a nice local month’s wage. We are not entirely sure he knows where he’s going. We’re only half-sure ourselves. But he’s got a mobile phone and we’re feeling pretty positive.
The drive to Linyi takes us through countryside dotted with fish farms, giving way to gently rolling hills. It’s nice to see the country houses decked out in their new decorations fresh from Spring Festival. (bright red poetry written on door frames, red and gold lanterns hanging nearby, red paper cutouts in the the windows and a pair of door gods observing it all.)
***
A few more hours and we are in Linyi! One journey done, now for the routine that accompanies arriving in China: the business dinner. All I want to do is go home and unpack, but I’ve got to toast for harmony and all that.
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The best part of this post….Harmony and all that! I can see the face you are making. Classic!