China again, September - October

[Neil]

I don't know where the hospital is, but I stayed at the Fuhua hotel and it was nice.  They had people that spoke English and it was affordable.  I don't have the number, but I'm sure they've got a website.  http://www.fuhuahotel.com.cn/web/en/

[Sylvain D]

I'll check for it, thx, Neil
btw, I must check again and again the flights because most of them are > 900 € and it's a little bit "too expensive"...
May I find one good flight asap

[Sylvain D]

Outch...
the flights were just excessive, that time, and I will learn, what is flying about 17 hours to go and come back..
But.. the flight is ok.
Now I just have to book a hotel, even one night, then, having all the papers to do the visa tomorrow if possible in express mode... and...
If all would be very good, on Wednesday, I should be in the flight for Gz
(but I told Liyan I would be there only on Friday... oh, maybe can I arrive and make her a "surprise", who knows? )
So.. just have to wait 3 days, crossing all my fingers and hoping that she can recover quick..
She told me that if all would be good, tomorrow she'll go to Kiki's home...
let's "wait" and see, so.

[ttwjr32]

Sly,

so she is feeling better?  they did give here something in the hospital?
i dont understand Sisi's brother told her it was 'rust' ?? is she going to
get this checked at fushun?? well if you 2 get a chance come to GZ
for the day. well i hope it works ok with mom

Ted

[Sylvain D]

Ted,
I can't either guess what would have said Liyan, but Sisi's brother asked her about the checkups, and said that if it was good, so, maybe there was (I guess?) her body who could be as "rust". I know in France we have a saying that is like that "eh man, are you rusted? I can't see you running faster than before..."
well, that's just a guessing, but I'll try anyway to have more news about it.
She also told me that Sisi's brother said that if checkups were good, there was no need to do some others in Fushun. (I think that's really what she said to me quick via QQ)

By the way, Liyan sent me a sms this morning, she's feeling better, and her sister will come to see her for a few days.
I must call the agency for my visa, if everything is good, I should be in Gz for thursday afternoon
And anyway, I would really like to see you in Gz so, I'll let you know about it.
I must prepare, working in one hour..
any more news to come later

[Sylvain D]

bad news.
I can't get my visa asap just because too few employees working at the ambassy in Paris... So, even if I wanted, I couldn't get one before friday/saturday...

And on next saturday (not this one), there is a carnival with my daughter... So I can not really miss that. I must see how to proceed to go there... and if I can anyway go to the ambassy tomorrow, early in the morning. And see if anyone can help me to get my visa very quick.

[Voiceroveip]

strange, no 24 hour service? I got express for document legalization (48hrs)

[Sylvain D]

Because they're not so many to work actually, they can't do express ones (

I looked on many visa agencies, same thing for them... I should wait until thursday to get one visa....
but i found that one :
http://www.visachrono.fr/visa/passeport/Chine/Touristique/45/6

They may can help me..
I will also contact the woman I met in Gz, who said she might could help, too...
Because I need my visa to be ok for wednesday... even for lunch time....

EDIT :
----------
*** in need of best advice ***
The woman I called in the agency for applying visas said I could give it to her before tomorrow morning but could only get it then, on wednesday, maybe for 01:00 pm or 02:00 pm. My flight is at 06:55 pm, so i would just have enough time to go up to the airport...

The other solution would be to go directly to the ambassy at morning, and waiting. Then, should I mention for very quick visa and mentionning that my girlfriend is at hospital? (Liyan sent me a sms, she's still there, but her sister is with her. Even if her pain is less hurting, there is still something)
but if so.. then I should mention on the papers "visiting a friend or family".. because up to now, i didn't say it...
but things have changed more than a little since my last trips... ^^

[Voiceroveip]

Hmmm souds tight to me. If you go directly to the consulate, they will surely refuse. They don't strike me as felxible. With the agency, if they can do it for 2pm that's fine, you don't have to be in CDG before 17:00, just bring your bag with you. You can still make the flight if you check in just before 6pm. Take RER to gare du Nord and then to CDG, 45 minutes tops, faster than taxi if there is traffic.

For the Visa: Always friends ... at least until you are married. Or even tourism ... no address of friend needed, just the hotel address.

[Irishman]

Sly, you could just fly to HK and get the visa in the airport there. You don't need a visa to enter HK. GZ is only 45 mins from Shenzen (border with HK) by train.

[Sylvain D]

Frank, thx for your advice
The woman from the agency said that she could not be "100% sure" about getting the visa very quickly, but most of the time, she got visas 24 hours later. So... I must try...
If that all sounds good, then, I will leave my car near Gare de Lyon, because I got an access to a private parking (related to my ex job over there^^), and so, getting up to Chatelet les halles, then Roissy via RER B. that would be also good.

and any letter to say I have my "friend" who is at hospital? Would it help to "accelerate" the process for the quick delivery or not at all? (in fact, I don't know if anyone would really worry about all problems, when someones is applying for a visa in express mode)...
should i also mention her name and the name of hospital?

Well.
anyway I'm doing the papers for the visa, and will give it to the agency tonight. So tomorrow at morning, it should be sent and may be done "quick"...
If not, then... that would also be very bad, all the flights are getting very expensive...
I prefer not thinking about it... :icon_confused:
Irishman, I don't really understand?? no need at all any visa ? :huh:
hmm, ok, i didn't see that. but how to get one visa in HK so?? should I believe i would have to stay one or two days, there? and getting out the airport to do it?

[Sylvain D]

Hemmm...

I called the company about my flight on Wednesday... i asked, if I had to cancel before boarding, could I get money back ? They just told me they would check for it, but I might had to wait a few days, and to contact the insurance for the big part of the flight's cost... So, that's not very good.... :s
because I can't afford myself to buy another tickets 2 or 3 days later to go and see Liyan.
Even if she says she feels better, knowing she's still at hospital is not a good thing...
I am looking for a one way flight to go to Hongkong, so that I could do the visa there... but the problem is still the same... money...
Maybe am i crazy enough in fact.. I just have 300 € that I could use for one week with Liyan in Gz/Zhongshan, but I can not pay myself the flight to go to Hongkong...
and I don't either know how much I should pay the visa in Hongkong, to have it quickly, nor the cost to go from hongkong to Gz, by boat or any other way.
But I am thinking slowly about HK and cancelling the flight, from Paris to Gz... so then maybe when I will be in Zhongshan, I could have money back from the insurance and the company... who knows... anyway, if i cancel before boarding, I could have 100% refund... but not so quick...

the only problem now then would be money... for HK's flight.

[Irishman]

Sly - if it help:-

1) You don't need a visa to enter HK, but you will need one to cross the border into China.
2) To get to GZ from HK just take the subway to the border with Shenzwen and walk across. Then take the train there, the station is literally on the other side of passport control and get the bullet train to GZ. I don't remember the cost but its wasn't more than 10 or 20 Euro (closer to 10 I think, maybe Willy or Ted can confirm the price)
3) The visa can be done in the airport, I believe there is a place in the airport you can get it done in under a day. The travel agencies in HK can all do it too for you at a price thats only a little more than official but may be quicker. You would probably need a native speaker to help you there though (i'd suggest buying a Chinese sim card so you can ask Liyan or her friend to speak for you if you need help there) .

if you dont have the money, then all the above might be moot.

I am sure Liyan will appreciate you coming whenever you can, maybe waiting for the visa at home is a better idea , especially if your flight is non refundable.

[Sylvain D]

Thx for help, Irishman
I am looking for flights for HK, one way is about 450 €, so... I am checking again and again how to proceed. anyway I will do the papers tonight for the visa, then I will see on wednesday if all's ok or no... then I will not really have many choices...

about waiting for the visa... I'd say it's all or nothing.. That's not good at all, because flights costs are becoming very expensive (more than 1100 € as I saw today at work, instead 855 € I ordered 2 days ago..... :s) maybe can you better imagine :s

[Voiceroveip]

Sylvain, it costs about 200 RMB to go to GZ from Hong Kong airport by bus/shuttle. There is a train too, a bit more expensive I think. For the bus, when you exit HK arrival door in the main hall, follow the signs for mainland transefer which lead you to the left, then towards the MTR (express train), then left again, there are plenty of signs, then another right. There is a counter for shuttle service there. You will take a Minibus to Shenzhen Luohu, then they will transfer you to a big bus there. The whole treck takes about 4 hours.

Otherwise take the train to the border (directly at the airport, ask they speak ENglish), and then the fast train to GZ, should be a lot quicker but more expensive too.

BTW, the insurance will not cover your ticket if you use the no Visa excuse. And the Chinese consulate, avoid complicating things, make it as simple as possible.

Maybe someone could shed a light on Visa procedure in HK ... that could be an option.