MASTERCARD AND VISA
After my karma-cleansing haircut on Saturday, the vernal equinox, I once again braved Wal-Mart where I was able to get quick turnaround on photos for my China visa. While I waited for my photos, I stocked up on generic ibuprofen (wow, so cheap), toothpaste, dental floss, Metamucil (because I was there)...and a couple of cheap brassieres, which now I see, despite the familiar old Fruit of the Loom label, are made in China!
Also was compelled to visit the martial arts section of the DVD department where I grabbed a couple classic Shaw Brothers re-releases.
Then it occurred to me. Since we do not have a Chinese consulate in Hawaii, maybe Wal-Mart could become a point-of-purchase franchise for Chinese visas. It makes weird sense, doesn't it?
Showing posts with label visa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label visa. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
WHEN PEOPLE DREAM OF FLYING
it's not usually at the airport.
But this morning I jerked awake from a reverie in which I had gotten to the airport just a little late, to find LONG lines at check-in and security. "But my plane leaves in 45 minutes," I said to someone, who took me to a more open place where I leap-frogged a couple of people, feeling pushy, to get to the check-in desk. At which point I realized: "I have no visa!" At least in the dream I was wearing clothes.
Acquiring my visa to China is the task I must deal with this week. My reliable and helpful Chinese travel agent will expedite for me, because, oddly, Hawaii, despite its large Chinese population and its aspirations as a tourist destination for Mainland Chinese, has no Chinese consulate. You can visit the ambassadorial reps from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hungary, Peru and Kiribati, but not the great economic superpower to the west. All visas must go through the embassy in Los Angeles, which means FedExing documents and waiting until the last minute for their properly red-stamped return.
At least I'm ahead of the game, better than a few years ago when I was about to leave for a Hong Kong visit when I noticed that my passport was about to expire WHILE I was to be in Hong Kong. I think that may have been the Year of the Handover, so it probably would have turned into major humbug.
I've learned to plan better now.
it's not usually at the airport.
But this morning I jerked awake from a reverie in which I had gotten to the airport just a little late, to find LONG lines at check-in and security. "But my plane leaves in 45 minutes," I said to someone, who took me to a more open place where I leap-frogged a couple of people, feeling pushy, to get to the check-in desk. At which point I realized: "I have no visa!" At least in the dream I was wearing clothes.
Acquiring my visa to China is the task I must deal with this week. My reliable and helpful Chinese travel agent will expedite for me, because, oddly, Hawaii, despite its large Chinese population and its aspirations as a tourist destination for Mainland Chinese, has no Chinese consulate. You can visit the ambassadorial reps from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hungary, Peru and Kiribati, but not the great economic superpower to the west. All visas must go through the embassy in Los Angeles, which means FedExing documents and waiting until the last minute for their properly red-stamped return.
At least I'm ahead of the game, better than a few years ago when I was about to leave for a Hong Kong visit when I noticed that my passport was about to expire WHILE I was to be in Hong Kong. I think that may have been the Year of the Handover, so it probably would have turned into major humbug.
I've learned to plan better now.
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