More Adventures for DeeDee

In One Week's Time....

tottie — Tue, 6 May 2014 05:40:00 GMT

we should be enjoying Singapore. We have had one drama in our planning. Because (a) there is no Chinese Visa service in Adelaide, and (b) I knew I could easily arrange for the Chinese Visa in Brisbane, I had my sister post her Passport for me and duly went into the Visa Service place in Brisbane, and after the usual few days wait, I returned to collect it.

I then went to a post office and sent it Registered Mail to my sister on Monday 28th April, to her at her work address in Norwood. She was to let me know when it arrived. When I had not heard from her on the Friday May 2nd, I went online to check the tracking. It appears that it had arrived in Adelaide and on the Wednesday they had not been able to deliver it. No explanation. I tried to phone the post office listed, but was online for 20 minutes and all I got was constant messages about how busy they were and they would answer soon. So I left a message through "lost mail" but it is 2 working days before I was to get a response.

I took all my information to the local (Beachmere) Post Office, and fortunately they had no other customers and phoned to check for me. The information from the local Adelaide post office was that they were unable to deliver the letter. It is a bit vague as to whether any notification ws left at the address, but my sister who (along with other staff members) were at the premises did not receive notification. Without my intervention, we don't know what would have happened. She certainly would not be flying out next Monday if she did not have her passport. The reason that it was sent to her business address was that there is someone (her) all the time, and there should have been no problem with her getting the envelope. Clearly no attempt was made to deliver it.

My sister went to the Post Office and collected it safely on May 5th. So all plans back on track. I will be writing a letter of complaint to Australia Post.

My regular blog is House Sit Diary - which I will probably be unable to access from China.

Just Over Three Weeks to Go

tottie — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 15:13:00 GMT

After having to active grandchildren here for nearly a week, I am relishing the peace and quiet!! I don't expect any house visitors now before I go away, so I have set up my suitcase on the spare bed and I am adding things as I think of them. I have a list of things to take - and I tick them off as they make their way to the suitcase.

I have purchased a few items - I've not done much swimming this summer, in part because my old bathing togs were looking sad and I had been keeping my eyes open for a new pair, and as luck would have it I found an inexpensive pair in KMart. I braved it a little and brought them home without trying them on, but I am pleased to say they are perfect.

I have printed off my travel documents and put them in a folder - and have duplicates too, and a copy of my passport. I will give my itinerary to my daughter too. plus details about my travel insurance.

I have yet to register on Smart Traveller and will do so in the next week or so. I will have a pedicure - and I will get my hair trimmed and coloured about 10 days before I go.

Grandchildren always like gifts when I travel, and I have asked them what they want. Easy!! Chinese lollies and the latest gel pens.

One Visa Done, another to Go.

tottie — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 19:38:00 GMT

My mistake, but I had the documents for my Visa but did not realise that I had to submit my sister's itinerary, and her accommodation details in Shanghai. We will be staying together, but she will go back to Adelaide and I will go on to Shaoxing. So it was back to the Visa processing office again, collecting mine and submitting her documents again.

As it turns out on this occasion I had two grand children with me - so as they were bored to bits by the long train journey, and waiting (albeit a short time) at the Visa office, I chose to take them to the Brisbane Town Hall Museum.

For anyone visiting Brisbane - this is a great museum with interactive and other items. Well worth the visit.

Progress

tottie — Sat, 5 Apr 2014 15:37:00 GMT

My sister has received her new passport, so I will wait for it to arrive to organise her Visa for China. It is not easy organising things when we live so far apart, and she is not a frequent internet user.

However, I have done the bookings and when her passport arrives (via Registered Post of course) I will take it and the documents in to get the Visa. I have booked the accommodation in Shanghai and it looks like it was the place I stayed at in 2008, though it looks a bit more upmarket.

My poor sister will be "in my hands" for much of the journey as I have been to Singapore and Shanghai before on many occasions so I will be her "tour guide".

One particular tourist travel I like is the "Hop on, Hop off" bus - where one is able to spend time doing one's own things. The Shanghai tour is not expensive and the ticket lasts for 48 hours. I have not booked yet - will probably do so when we are in Singapore. This is the website I found which has the details.

My "To Do List" is getting smaller, but still a few things. I saw a bathingcostume that I like - I'm not likely to swim much but need to be prepared, and I am adding things to my "cabin bag" as I think of them.

It's Less than Six Weeks Now!

tottie — Wed, 2 Apr 2014 12:47:00 GMT

Time is going quickly really, and I still have some things to do. However, I can tick off a couple of things on my "

To Do List". I paid for my travel insurance today - with World Nomads of course. I also booked our accommodation in Shanghai. A three bedroom appartment - two double beds, so my sister and I won't have to argue over who gets the big bed!

One thing I am keen to do is catch the Maglev from the airport into the city, and armed with a couple of maps I was trying to calculate the distance from the Maglev station to our appartment.

For those who don't know the Maglev is the high speed train from the airport to the midle of Shanghai. It's awesome and I so must go on it.

I keyed in the address of both, and hit "Find Directions" and was gobsmacked to learn that with bus/train etc it would take nearly 1 1/2 hours to get to the appartment!!! OMG! Shock!!! But at the bottom of the list was "taxi - 13 minutes". Phew.

My sister who is a floral artist working in Adelaide is working mad over time for the next few weeks as they have a major order. I sent her an email telling her that I had booked the accommodation. I've paid for it too. She's the one who is working and earning money, but I have paid. I know she will fix me up eventually.

I am still waiting for her to send her new passport (which I guess she is still waiting for), for me to arrange the Visa's. Time is clicking, but there's no panic yet.

Getting Ready

tottie — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:39:00 GMT

It is now exactly six weeks before I set off on my next adventure. On May 12th, I fly to Singapore, and all being well, will have a 60 minute wait for my sister to fly in from Adelaide. It will be our first holiday together since our childhood as we have not lived in the same area/state since we were in our teens. We will go on to Shanghai after a few days, and I will go on to Shaoxing and she will return to Australia.

It is somewhat of a challenge for me - as I prefer to travel alone. I do like company, but negotiating with a fellow traveller always creates challenges for me. I don't like sharing a room - I wake early, I read in the night, I am forever concerned about my fellow traveller to the point that it stresses me. If I have my own room I only annoy myself.

Anyway, we do have accommodation with our own rooms in Singapore and Shanghai so that should be no problem. I have been to both places so in a way I am "Tour Guide" for her who is visiting this part of Asia for the first time. I stop frequently to take photos - which generally annoys my fellow travellers, so being alone has its advantage in that area.

I am about to pay for my Travel Insurance (with World Nomads of course) as I have done before with previous trips. I have a small (cabin sized) bag which I am putting things I want to take e.g. paperwork, small items, etc and am collating a note with items I plan to take. I believe it will be warm, but will take a few items as I fear the cold.

My priority at the moment is getting a Visa - actually getting the Visa for myself and my sister. I have all my documents, but she is waiting for her new passport, so I hope to get it later this week.

Six weeks gives me plenty of time to complete a few tasks, including registering on Smart Traveller.