It really is no secret. I am excited so I tell a lot of people. Two of my former students are getting married so I am going to go to a wedding!!! In China. Now it would have been easy if they would get married around the same time, but it was not to be. One is getting married in December and the other in February.
I procrastinated for a while. Then I thought “Just Do It” – where have I heard that before?
I was busy, and with the suggestion of a friend decided to try a Travel Agent. That is the very lasst time I will do that. She uses two computers – which are not connected and when she keyed in my email address, she added a letter, and I did not get the emails. She was a bit cranky when I kept saying, that I needed the email – informtion. Then when she did realise her mistake and belatedly sent the information, the flight cost was $700 more than I could get if I booked myself. So guess what? I booked it myself. So much easier. and with Cathay Pacific I know it is a good reliable airline. As well, it takes me via Hong Kong, not that I want to stay there, but I’d rather spend a few hours there than Singapore as I have done that twice in recent times.
I did have to change my departure and return flight days, but I don’t have a big bank balance so I was able to change with no problem.
Then I have been researching places to visit. I will be staying in Hangzhou. It is winter. It will be cold and maybe snowing. Not something I am prepared for – but will be by then, although buying winter clothes here at this time of the year is a problem. I have the heavy coat that one of my students gave me, so I think I will be ok, and I have booked into a hotel, so with any luck I will be able to keep warm in the air conditioning/heating. Whoo Hoo.
Now, to arrange my Visa and to arrange my insurance. So much to do.
I am curious about the wedding. I can’t get much information about it. She “will tell me when I get to China.” Eeeeek.
One place I intend to visit is the Hangzhou Botanical Gardens. It has a rather large bamboo section, with 150 varieties of bamboo including one that grows very quickly and can reach the height of a 3 storied building in a month.
