I can't even remember the beginning of the trip. I know we had to get out of Beijing with more luggage than we cared to carry. Okay. It's coming back. Beijing to Chicago. Chicago to Shanghai by way of Beijing. Shanghai to Bali by way of Manila. Bali to Shanghai. Okay.
I guess I should have titled this interlude "Chicago" - and I may change it later, but right now, it is what it is.
Chicago was a mix of jet-lag, happy to be home, happier to see the girls, and chores that needed to get done.
Tears were shed when the shuttle scooped us up from the house and took us to the airport. Again, we were loaded down with baggage. Oh, damn. I just remembered I spent my birthday in the clouds. First class offers more in terms of elbow room, but unless I were to have cut off my ankles, reclining was not the most comfortable. I did get a free bottle of wine, though. So there's that.
We had a 6 hour layover in Beijing that seemed more like 2 hours. When we finally made it through the door in Shanghai, I could have laid down on the hard floor as soon as I dropped my luggage. Showered, slept, and headed right back out the next day to the airport to begin our vacation.
Our vacation started with a flight to Manila which was delayed because of weather. When we got on the plane, our landing was delayed because of weather. And when we got to the transfer desk to board for Bali, we were told that the plane left without us and another wouldn't be available until the same time the next day. In other words, we just got a 24 hour layover. We weren't the only ones, so that whole "misery loving company" thing may have gotten some traction. They were nice enough to put us up at a five star hotel with some meal vouchers, so....
Welcome to Manila!
People were great. Food was okay. Taxi driver off-loaded three earfuls of socio-political commentary on his country. Saw what I suspect was a "comfort girl" accompanying some European dude into the hotel. Got hit up by a miniature Zoolander begging for change. Had a pedicure done while the girls got their nails done - cuz I had nothing else to do and it was raining outside. Said goodbye, and got on the plane to Bali.
