aladybug
"sonny, anong terminal?!!!"
The Beijing Diary
Day 5 – The Journey Home
The plan was simple enough. From Beijing, to Shenzhen airport, to Macau ferry terminal. We should be home in Macau before the evening news end at 8:30. But this is a long diary entry so you know something wrong happened. You can skip reading this one if you want.
We left our hotel before 12 noon, aboard two taxicabs, headed for the Beijing airport. I, together with three others, was aboard the second car, following the first taxi. So far, so good. A few meters away, our driver was asking us something, motioning “1-2-3” on his hand. We couldn’t understand him but after awhile, we deduce he meant what airport terminal were we suppose to go. Uh-oh. We didn’t know and we don’t have cell phones to ask the others on the first taxicab. We “handsignalled” our driver to overtake the first cab so we can ask what terminal but our driver couldn’t understand us. Our last resort was to shout loud enough for the others to hear us. “Sonny! Anong terminal?!!!” After a few shouts, they heard us (thank you cotton buds) and signaled “3”. We motioned to our driver “terminal 3”. A few minutes later, we saw them flash “2”. We told our driver that it was terminal 2 and we made sure he understand.
The drive from our hotel to the airport was about an hour, along the beautiful suburban areas on a wide highway. We were still following the first taxicab. So far, so good. But nearing the airport, after the highway tollbooth, our driver overtook the first taxicab. We would’ve preferred to follow them but I saw a sign pointing to the terminal 2 airport and that’s where we’re headed. But as I look back, I thought I saw the first taxicab slowed down and turned right towards terminal 3. Uh-oh…
We got off our cab on the drop-off area and were waiting for the others. Minutes and a number of taxicabs passed and still no sign of them. The girls went inside the terminal to ask if we’re on the right one. They returned after awhile and told us that yes, we’re on the right terminal. But where were the others? After about half an hour or more, the others came, aboard a different taxi and were fuming, noses flaring. They got into an argument with the first taxi they were on about which terminal to go. After checking in and a hearty lunch, everyone was in a good mood.
We arrived in Shenzhen airport about half an hour or more late. There is a ferry service to Macau from that airport and we were hoping we can still catch it but the last sailing was 5:30 in the afternoon. We were at the airport around 6:30. We have to take two taxicabs again to the Shekou ferry terminal (uh-oh, not again) where we were hoping we can catch the last sailing to Macau at 7:30. Thankfully, our taxi drivers know where we wanted to go, but we arrived at the Shekou terminal at 8pm.
Our last resort was to sail to Hong Kong then to Macau even though we know that will take lots of time and effort. Fortunately, we saw that there is a ferry sailing to Zhuhai, a mainland city next to Macau at 8:30. From the Zhuhai ferry terminal, we can take a short taxicab ride to the Zhuhai-Macau boarder and walk across. But our concern was if our Chinese visas would allow us to go a different Chinese province from Shenzhen. We asked the ticket booth personnel and she said it was okay. We wanted to make sure and fortunately, a Chinese who speaks fluent English helped us and asked Chinese immigration officials to confirm if we’re allowed to go to Zhuhai. It was a “go”. But the ferry to Zhuhai was a slow-moving old ferry, not unlike the high-tech, fast ferries we were accustomed to board going to Hong Kong or Shenzhen. Well, it doesn’t matter. As long as it will take us home.
Around midnight, we were resting on our own beds, inside our own respective flats in Macau, already reminiscing about our memorable Beijing trip. I believe there were smiles on everyone’s lips as we sleep, even though we have to endue an 11-12 hour travel just to get home.
"sonny, anong terminal?!!!"
The Beijing Diary
Day 5 – The Journey Home
The plan was simple enough. From Beijing, to Shenzhen airport, to Macau ferry terminal. We should be home in Macau before the evening news end at 8:30. But this is a long diary entry so you know something wrong happened. You can skip reading this one if you want.
We left our hotel before 12 noon, aboard two taxicabs, headed for the Beijing airport. I, together with three others, was aboard the second car, following the first taxi. So far, so good. A few meters away, our driver was asking us something, motioning “1-2-3” on his hand. We couldn’t understand him but after awhile, we deduce he meant what airport terminal were we suppose to go. Uh-oh. We didn’t know and we don’t have cell phones to ask the others on the first taxicab. We “handsignalled” our driver to overtake the first cab so we can ask what terminal but our driver couldn’t understand us. Our last resort was to shout loud enough for the others to hear us. “Sonny! Anong terminal?!!!” After a few shouts, they heard us (thank you cotton buds) and signaled “3”. We motioned to our driver “terminal 3”. A few minutes later, we saw them flash “2”. We told our driver that it was terminal 2 and we made sure he understand.
The drive from our hotel to the airport was about an hour, along the beautiful suburban areas on a wide highway. We were still following the first taxicab. So far, so good. But nearing the airport, after the highway tollbooth, our driver overtook the first taxicab. We would’ve preferred to follow them but I saw a sign pointing to the terminal 2 airport and that’s where we’re headed. But as I look back, I thought I saw the first taxicab slowed down and turned right towards terminal 3. Uh-oh…
We got off our cab on the drop-off area and were waiting for the others. Minutes and a number of taxicabs passed and still no sign of them. The girls went inside the terminal to ask if we’re on the right one. They returned after awhile and told us that yes, we’re on the right terminal. But where were the others? After about half an hour or more, the others came, aboard a different taxi and were fuming, noses flaring. They got into an argument with the first taxi they were on about which terminal to go. After checking in and a hearty lunch, everyone was in a good mood.
We arrived in Shenzhen airport about half an hour or more late. There is a ferry service to Macau from that airport and we were hoping we can still catch it but the last sailing was 5:30 in the afternoon. We were at the airport around 6:30. We have to take two taxicabs again to the Shekou ferry terminal (uh-oh, not again) where we were hoping we can catch the last sailing to Macau at 7:30. Thankfully, our taxi drivers know where we wanted to go, but we arrived at the Shekou terminal at 8pm.
Our last resort was to sail to Hong Kong then to Macau even though we know that will take lots of time and effort. Fortunately, we saw that there is a ferry sailing to Zhuhai, a mainland city next to Macau at 8:30. From the Zhuhai ferry terminal, we can take a short taxicab ride to the Zhuhai-Macau boarder and walk across. But our concern was if our Chinese visas would allow us to go a different Chinese province from Shenzhen. We asked the ticket booth personnel and she said it was okay. We wanted to make sure and fortunately, a Chinese who speaks fluent English helped us and asked Chinese immigration officials to confirm if we’re allowed to go to Zhuhai. It was a “go”. But the ferry to Zhuhai was a slow-moving old ferry, not unlike the high-tech, fast ferries we were accustomed to board going to Hong Kong or Shenzhen. Well, it doesn’t matter. As long as it will take us home.
Around midnight, we were resting on our own beds, inside our own respective flats in Macau, already reminiscing about our memorable Beijing trip. I believe there were smiles on everyone’s lips as we sleep, even though we have to endue an 11-12 hour travel just to get home.