So we took the T97 fast train from Beijing to Hong Kong. The trip was 25 hours and leaves every other day. This same train also leaves from Shanghai. NOTE: You really don't have to go to GuangZhou then cross the border from there. Even some Chinese locals will think this but it is FALSE - this is the new fast train that goes direct to HKG Hom Hum station.
We left mainland China earlier than we originally planned. We had thought we would spend 2 months here and indeed were very disapppointed when we only got 30 day visa. Then added to the problem that when we called OneWorld (in the UK) we couldn't change our flight dates from full bookings in our 'class'. (I will talk about this in another blog for tips).
So with knowing we had to find a way to stay in China, we found out that in Leshan (near ChengDu) there is a PSB office that will extend your visa for a month - with a same day turn over. EXcellent. The only thing was that we were getting tired after being on the road now for over a year. We kind of liked the idea of going home to Israel - but there was no flights.
The night before we were scheduled to go to Leshan we called OneWorld again. At midnight we called American Airlines in USA (who is part of OneWorld) and in 2 minutes we were surprised as we got earlier flight connections back home! I guess our flight did have some opening now! So it pays to keep trying!
With this, we now new we were on a tight schedule in mainland China. Which made us even more anxious when we nearly got stuck in the mountains. With the weather we could have been stuck for weeks, when our visa would have run out and in which case, I heard horror stories of tourists going to jail (at worst) for overstaying their visa. AUGH! Plus we had prebooked trains and hostels to Xian since now we were on a tight schedule - where we would lose that too.
However we kept the date of our eearly return a secret. Everyone in israel was expecting us back in Novemeber. We would arrive just after Yom Kippur holiday finished - so we thought this would be a fun surprise for Briel's family.
Anyway Ciao for now!
