Monday 22nd July 2013

Chinese visa applications

Tim sleeps fitfully. He always gets shredded about visa applications. We are up at 6.30, check out, order a taxi, have breakfast (full English for good luck), and arrive at Embassy’s visa door just before 8am. First ones there. Tim stands by door, Nd I sit on bench catching up with blog. Very quickly a large crowd gathers. There Re people of many nationalities. There are those who will queue patiently, and those who band on the door and feel themselves to be important. The lovely Canadian family turn up. We chat. Their camper is driving well, but is being shaken apart on the inside, no water, no shower. They were hoping to share the costs of application with another family, but found out yesterday they had dropped out. But, they are in good spirits and it was lovely to see them again.

Punctually at 9.30am the doors open, we don’t have to use elbows to keep our place. The clerk was efficient, read the paperwork, asked pertinent questions. She then asked when we wanted to pick up the visas. Wednesday at 4pm. Went across the road to the bank, paid $100. Done. 9.50am.

Decide to walk back to hotel, quicker than taxi due to one way system. Pavements were atrocious. Road sweeper was clearing gutters, and shovelling mud onto pavement. Just missed our feet. Crossed the river. Small fun fair being uncovered for the day. Sunshine, although rain forecast for later. Tents and cars for sale. Enter the Sky Shopping Mall at the back of hotel. Buy some yoghurt. Order a cup of tea, and contact Atle and Hilde. They are meeting Jeanette and Pugi, who will translate for them at the immigration offices. Their visa for Mongolia was a single entry, although they had asked and paid for double entry. We will drive to airport and hopefully meet them again. Then off to the wilderness for a couple of nights.