OrionM31

I know there are layovers. The main thing I am concerned about is making sure I am on the bus to GZ by 7pm. I take GoGo Bus. It's the easiest for me because I do not need to do much. <get on and off the bus a few times is all> Phil

Well, after taking my printouts with me to the travel agents in town only one sounded like they may be able to get me a lower fare to Hong Kong. I am hoping so. I guess next time i will book my flights a little bit more in advance. I had also checked on Flights to GZ and the Lady at FlyChina said that they are unable to get a ticket for the dates I specified. <sigh> Phil

If you wish to use this you may. I think that it may have more of an effect if it was left alone and sent the way that it is, with grammar and punctuation mistakes as well. This will make it seem more from the heart and not processed as a polished stone. I have corrected some of the obvious punctuation and grammar errors that I could find in the document. I do not pretend to be an expert at the use of English, but compare the two and decide. Humbly, Philip & Ru Fang (Connie) Elkhart, Indiana and GuangZhou DEAR MS. HARTY, We are all females whose interview dates were in August. As you know applying for a VISA is a long time process, some of us even haven’t seen our beloved for more than one year. We have missed each other terribly. The endless waiting makes us really despair and miserable. Once we knew our beloved had an accident or sickness, the only thing we may do is to cry, helplessly. We care about and desire each other not only spiritually but also physically. We pray our love really can sustain for such a long time without being destroyed by any kind of attrition. We haven’t had a chance to water the love together in reality at all. As you know love needs nutrition, fertilized constantly with love and tenderness. We believe you understand our feeling very well. We have been waiting for the moment of reuniting day by day for 5 months or more. We cannot make any plans for life, but to wait. We desperately pray this torture may be finished as soon as possible. We know you and your staff have improved a lot on issuing VISAS. Many girls have got visa on time, but WHEN WILL THE GROUP OF THE MOST UNFORTUNATE AUGUST PETTITIONERS GET THEIRS? We pray God will let you notice our deep pain and act in trying to solve our problem. We sincerely thank you for your kindly help. With best regards

Not even light can escape the black hole. Not really funny in this case, but we all feel the pain I am sure. I have just started this journey and I am starting to sweat. Phil

I have tried many of the suggestions that were offered. I think many of the "cheap tickets" are gone. <sigh, chuckles> I will just check with the local travel agents here in town and see what they can do. If anything, I will just "bite the bullet" and buy the ticket. Phil

Phil, you and your lady look great together! She has a look of serene confidence. Man, you were just having TOO much fun over there!!! I got a chuckle out of when you proposed again. My Ping tried to pull me back up when I went down on one knee. It might be a while before you learn mah jongg . I'll bet Glenn asks about you every day. Thank you for sharing and I hope Ru Fang will be with you soon. My wife thinks that I am just a big version of her nephew. That may be why we get along so well. I also had to win his heart over because he was afraid I would take his "auntie" away from him. I really can understand his thoughts and feelings. I explained to my wife that he is not losing an Aunt, he is gaining and Uncle. Phil

Sounds like an Abbot and Costello Routine.

My photos are under Philip and Ru Fang if anyone wondered. Phil

Thanks for the input! I will make sure I check them out. Phil

I had the same issues when my wife had asked me to pick up Cigerettes for the brother-in-law that she and her mom live with. I was against buying them though since I do not smoke and feel that I am contributing to a bad habbit. As for your interesting problem, I am not really sure since my wife's father had passed away quite a while before I ever met her. I am sure the Ladies here may know of some nice gifts that will do very nicely. It really depends on what type of person this man is. When I buy a gift for someone, I look and see what their interests are, and then buy a gift around a certain interest. Don't know if this helps, but it may be a start. Phil

<chuckles> I know all about the busride now. I agree that the train is a better choice, but then I would have to memorize the train schedule and figure out how to get to GZ from the hong kong airport. My wife said it is possible, but just as much hassle since you would have to switch trains a few times. I will take the bus at 34 dollars anyway. I will start checking with the Travel agents here and see what I can come up with., but I would like to know prices before I go in so I have ammunition to say, "I can get such and such flight for this" Phil

This is a Round trip price that I was quoted so far. I have no problem with sharing info on Flights. No one likes to pay through the nose for a small seat and peanuts. This is the link to the sight that I got my best price. It is for American Airlines. http://internet-reservations.net/?http://f.../hong-kong.html Phil

I wanted to make sure I have good prices before I go to a travel agent. We have a few local ones here that may flip at the price I was quoted so far. We will see next week. Phil

My wife always asks me why I have so few bags. The first time I showed up, I had one bag and it was a carry on. Now I am forced to take two since I have many gifts to take to new family. Phil

<chuckles> Well the main problem I have is that When I get off the plane, I am such a bundle of nerves that the bus is the best way for me to travel, and the least amount of hassel. I am from A small town and Hong Kong is intimidating to me. Phil

my dates are as follows: Jan 28th - Feb 10th. (anytime on the two dates and I will be leaving CHicago, O'Hare international Airport. I don't mind Layovers but I would like to get to Hong Kong before the 7 pm bus leaves for GZ) Thanks for the help and this subject my prove to be informative to others as well. Phil

I have been to China three times so far. Each time I flew on Air Canada out of Chicago. The cost to fly, even at the budget sights on the internet are now getting more and more expensive! Does anyone out there have an idea where a "poor church mouse" can find a good fare for Flight? My lowest fare I have found so far has been about $730 and this has a 5 hour layover in Singapore of all places. <sigh> I am flying to Hong Kong by the way and taking a bus from there to GZ. Thanks for any suggestions and help anyone can provide. You would think with all the money problems the airlines are having they would lower the prices, encouraging flights. <sigh> Oh well! Phil

Did you think he would kiss and Tell? If I was him, I wouldn't! Phil

I Think that Arnold Swarzenegger could be a good star in the "GZ VISA MOVIE" Arnold to GZ Guard: "I'll be back <to get my visa>" Phil

Maybe we should have our loved ones become proffessional Sports stars! That's the ticket! :D Phil

The first phrases in Mandarin I learned was "thank you", "your welcome", "I'm full", "I love you", "I miss you", "big bear, little bear" (niknames) "want/don't want" All usefull phrases to learn! Phil

There is enough room underneath the blue thingies to have more blue thingies. Maybe that is what will happen. Guess we will wait and see eh? Phil

That does look like a kicthen that would have been found in an apartment here in America. All we have is a tiny sink and on the other side is the Wok. Phil

My views on this subject are parallel to everyone else’s. I thought that Chicago traffic was bad and some of the other Cities, but when I got to GZ... Let's just say it was an eye opening experience. I rarely seen traffic lights, there are mostly stop signs. Of course, in the city there were traffic lights, and for the most part, people will obey them. People will also turn left in the far right lane and so forth. I believe the entire mentality is: "the other guy is watching where I go, I can do what I want." And, odd as it may seem it seems to work. Maybe the Chinese have a group mind when they drive. They can sense when someone will turn. I had only seen two wrecks when I was in GZ, I would have pictured many more. Another annoyance is when you are in the City, you have cabs that park where the busses are needing to go to drop off their passengers. When you go out of the City and into the "burbs" this is where Taxis do not exist. You may see one on a main road, but it is mostly motorcyclists only. And what they do is when they see a bus coming in, they will more or less surround the bus to make sure they are there when the passengers get off. It is almost like watching a big shark swim around and there are the little fish that hang out with the shark to clean it, or eat any leftovers. The shark doesn't bother the little fish since they help the Shark. I doubt that the bus drivers find the motorcyclists as helpful though. I think it would be a great idea to write a book about the differences in culture. I think it would be a very interesting read! It also may help some people know more as to what and what not to do. I know I was worried about if I was going to pass muster with my wife’s family. All the prep I did, I had to throw out the window since it did not apply. I am naturally polite and picked up on “thank you” and “you are welcome” very quickly. Maybe you should do a bit on Manners as well. Phil

Er... All people and places in this story are fictional. Any simmilarities with anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. Thank you. (Forgot to add this at the end of the post) <chuckles>