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Letter 53
Thursday 03.06.10
An early night? No, there`s always something happening.
In the evening Laura has friends "visiting". It`s an american and his
chinese wife living in Chongqing, and she knows the wife. Within long
I`m talking China with the american who`s also of some age.
It gets a long conversation. We agree on most and wonder equally much.
It turns out that he`s going to teach art in the international school in
Chongqing after the summer vacation, apparently the one the danish
consuls daughters attend. It`s a small world.
If I ever get to Chongqing again, I can stay at their house, they`ve
plenty of space - and I`ve got one more email contact.
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| Bicycle parking | A goodbye to the rocket on the corner |
Everything was ready for take off - for once - I thought. How stupid I am -
still. What have I forgotten this time? Is the plane cancelled like then? No.
Have I double checked all? No. One thing I didn`t do... Checked the time for the
taxi on my receipt.
It turn out that he`s written 7.30 p.m. And NOT a.m. even there was no doubt,
that that was what I was talking about.
So NO car is on its way now at 7.30 where I and my danish friend are ready.
I don`t panic and noone else does. After all there`s still 3 hours before the
plane leaves.
A car should be on its way but time passes and nothing really happens. I havn`t
taped the box around the bike finally. I put on some tape, if they quarrel in
the airport I ought to be able to make some quick adjustments.
Joe, my bicycle friend among the staff arrives and apologize, he`s the one that
made the mistake.
Time passes and it`s decided that we better take a taxi together with the
luggage now, then the van will have to take the bike whenever it arrives. Joe
goes with us. The driver is annoyed I hear, but we roll on. He`s no doubt taking
the fastest route. My young friend is obviously nerveus and it takes at least 40
minutes to get there, so as he hasn`t heard the story about the bike and I , I
start telling to make time pass.
I`m so engaged, that I don`t pay attention to the driving, so when he asks, if I
think we`re close to the airport now, I answer that we have to do the part on
the highway first. "But we`ve just been doing 140 km/h" Oh, yes it looks like
the surroundings I was gazing at long time ago.
So we reach the airport on time. I see Joe paying him 80 RMB (i hope he`s not
going to pay for this himself?). And we also reach check-in.
My friend checks in, but I have the problem, that my bike hasn`t arrived yet.
Well, check-in ends in 20 min, she tells me. What can I do? Phone Mix Hostel to
have them calling the driver is a possibility. Luckily their number is in my
phone. I call - and someone tells me I`ve out of money, I have to charge the
account. This is just what I needed!
I get ready to go to look for it outside - this moment Joe steps in the hall
with the bike. I didn`t panic at any moment that much I`ve got accustomed to
China - you never know...
Joe tapes the box while I go to pay for it. A man from the airport tells me to
let some air out of the tyres. Yes, I`m aware of this, but I never got the
opportunity.
I put the sciccors and the pocket knife from the handluggage to the backpack and
the tape to the handluggage, but I forget one other thing that was on the plan
for today: I have the tools for the pedals and the unbraco keys in the
handluggage, just in case, so in the security control I`m detained and the
luggage is searched. The most senior officer is asked, if they can go? Hmm. Yes.
I continue towards gate A9, which is of course the last one, while they call
flight no. KL0896 for Amsterdam for boarding.
I managed - once more.